Dhaka: Following Uzbekistan’s formal confirmation of its acquisition of Chengdu J 10CE multirole fighters, Bangladesh has taken significant steps towards securing a major defence procurement deal with Beijing. Prime Minister (PM)Zahed Ur Rahman’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser confirmed that a government panel is preparing a draft agreement for submission to the finance ministry and the armed forces.
The prospective package aims to replace the Bangladesh Air Force’s ageing fleet of Chengdu F 7s and MiG 29s with up to 24 J 10CE jets, along with attack helicopters, transport aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems. While the baseline cost per jet is estimated at 62.7 million dollars, comprehensive lifecycle support, infrastructure, and weapons integration are expected to raise the final unit investment to nearly 115 million dollars.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan officially revealed its deployment of the Chinese combat jets on August 28, 2026, during a state television broadcast celebrating the country's 35th Independence Day. A formation of at least six J 10CE fighters was shown landing at a local air base after completing a 3,000 kilometre ferry flight from the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation facility in central China.
The Uzbek variants feature distinct low visibility national tail flashes and lack the starboard in flight refuelling probe seen on standard variants, reflecting Tashkent’s localised air defence requirements rather than long range expeditionary capability. The growing international momentum for the J 10CE follows its combat debut with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the May 2025 border engagements with India. Armed with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, advanced electronic warfare suites, and PL 15 beyond visual range missiles, the platform is rapidly capturing market share traditionally dominated by Russian, European and US based aerospace manufacturers.
Defence analysts say that for countries seeking to modernise their air forces without navigating complex political conditions, Beijing’s mature, production ready fighter offers a compelling alternative for regional air superiority.
