Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, BBP, OSP, GUP, NSWC, PSC, departed Dhaka on Wednesday, 07 May 2025, for an official visit to Italy, marking a significant step in the Air Force’s modernisation ambitions and a deepening of bilateral defence cooperation with a key European NATO member.
The Air Chief’s visit, scheduled from 08–14 May 2025, includes participation in the prestigious AeroSpace Power Conference (ASPC) 2025, hosted in Rome by the Italian Air Force. The conference, organised under the leadership of Italian Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Luca Goretti, brings together global air chiefs and senior defence officials to discuss the future of airpower, deterrence, and emerging aerospace technologies.
Strategic Signals: Eurofighter Test Flights & Leonardo Visit
In what many analysts see as a clear indicator of BAF’s forward-looking procurement goals, the delegation will also visit Leonardo S.P.A., Italy’s premier defence and aerospace manufacturer, where the Bangladesh delegation is scheduled to test-fly the Eurofighter Typhoon—a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft developed through a European consortium including Italy, the UK, Germany, and Spain.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the Eurofighter Typhoon remains a top contender in BAF’s acquisition program for a next-generation twin-engine multirole combat aircraft (MRCA). The platform is being evaluated alongside ongoing acquisitions of the Chinese J-10CE, which has already been selected to fulfil the Air Force’s requirements for a single-engine medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA).
Leonardo, which plays a key role in Eurofighter development and production, is reportedly offering favourable transfer of technology (ToT) options and support packages aimed at long-term sustainment, infrastructure development, and training of BAF crews.
“This visit underlines Bangladesh’s growing focus on maintaining credible multirole combat capabilities amid changing regional dynamics,” said a European defence attaché based in South Asia.
Italy–Bangladesh Defence Cooperation on the Rise
While historically modest in defence ties, Italy and Bangladesh have witnessed a quiet but consistent expansion in military-to-military cooperation in recent years. Leonardo already supplies radar systems, avionics, naval electronics, and coastal surveillance systems to Bangladesh. Defence analysts view this high-profile visit as a sign of growing strategic alignment, particularly in the areas of air defence, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), and tactical aviation.
Bangladesh’s participation in ASPC 2025 also positions it alongside other countries modernising their air forces in response to growing regional airpower competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia.
“Bangladesh’s air force leadership has shown clear intent to balance affordability, capability, and strategic partnerships,” said retired Group Captain M. Reza, a regional airpower analyst. “The Typhoon represents both technological sophistication and a long-term European security relationship.”
Eurofighter Typhoon vs. J-10CE: Complementary Power Projection
As Bangladesh evaluates both platforms for future induction, the Air Force’s strategy is clearly not to pit one against the other—but to fulfil complementary roles. The J-10CE, already selected as the single-engine MMRCA, offers cost-effective air superiority and multi-role capacity. The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 4, on the other hand, offers superior range, payload, survivability, and interoperability with NATO standards, making it an ideal twin-engine platform for deterrence and strategic depth.
Technical Comparison: Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 4 vs. J-10CE
| Specification | Eurofighter Typhoon (Tranche 4) | Chengdu J-10CE |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | UK/Germany/Italy/Spain (Eurofighter GmbH) | China (Chengdu Aircraft Corporation) |
| Engine | 2 × Eurojet EJ200 | 1 × WS-10B Taihang (improved) |
| Thrust (with afterburner) | ~90 kN × 2 (180 kN total) | ~130 kN |
| Max Speed | Mach 2.0+ | Mach 2.0 |
| Range (combat) | ~1,390 km (w/o drop tanks) | ~1,250 km |
| Ferry Range | ~3,790 km | ~2,600 km |
| Service Ceiling | 65,000 ft | 56,000 ft |
| Radar | Captor-E AESA (ECRS Mk2) | KLJ-7A AESA |
| Max External Payload | ~10,000 kg | ~6,000 kg |
| Hardpoints | 13 | 11 |
| BVR Missiles | Meteor, AIM-120, IRIS-T | PL-15, PL-10 |
| EW & Countermeasures | DASS suite, towed decoys | Integrated ECM, AESA-based jamming |
| Fly-by-Wire | Quad-redundant digital | Triple-redundant digital |
| Avionics Standard | NATO STANAG compliant | Chinese proprietary |
| Multirole Capability | Deep strike, SEAD, air dominance | Multirole, low-cost air superiority |
| Estimated Unit Cost | $120–135 million (export) | ~$45–55 million (export) |
Sources: Eurofighter GmbH, AVIC, GlobalSecurity, SIPRI, FlightGlobal 2024, Jane’s Defence
This clear technological edge of the Eurofighter Typhoon is balanced by the affordability, rapid delivery, and strategic partnership Beijing offers through the J-10CE deal. Bangladesh’s pursuit of both types reveals its two-pronged doctrine: cost-effective volume air superiority and high-end deterrence capability—a combination increasingly mirrored by air forces worldwide.
References
- Leonardo S.p.A. Official Website: https://www.leonardo.com
- Eurofighter GmbH Official Website: https://www.eurofighter.com
- AeroSpace Power Conference (ASPC) 2025 Programme, Italian Air Force
- BDMilitary.com: “J-10CE for BAF Confirmed” (2023)
- SIPRI Arms Transfers Database: https://www.sipri.org/databases/armstransfers
- FlightGlobal 2024 World Air Forces Report
- Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft, 2024 Edition
- ISPR Bangladesh: https://ispr.gov.bd/বাংলাদেশ-বিমান-বাহিনী-প্-82/
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