Bangladesh Plans $2.2 Billion Purchase of 20 Chinese J-10CE Fighter Jets by 2027

Reading Time: 4 minutes Inter-ministerial committee formed to negotiate government-to-government deal with China; payments to continue till FY2035–36. Bangladesh is preparing to purchase 20 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighter jets in a deal worth $2.2 billion (around Tk27,060 crore) by 2027, according to local media reports, including a detailed account published by The Business Standard on 7 October 2025. The planned acquisition, covering aircraft, training, maintenance, and associated support, forms a major step in the government’s efforts to modernise the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and strengthen national air defence. The contract is expected to be executed during FY2025–26 and FY2026–27, either through a direct purchase or a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement with China. Payments for the project are expected to be spread across ten fiscal years, up to FY2035–36, in order to distribute the financial load while ensuring delivery continuity and logistical support. A Breakdown of the $2.2 Billion Deal According