Now Reading: Bangladesh moves to buy Chinese J-10CE jets, cites combat performance
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Bangladesh moves to buy Chinese J-10CE jets, cites combat performance
Bangladesh moves to buy Chinese J-10CE jets, cites combat performance
Bangladesh is advancing plans to acquire Chinese J-10CE fighter jets, citing the platform's performance in last year's India-Pakistan conflict. Zahed ur Rahman, adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on policy and strategy,…
Bangladesh is advancing plans to acquire Chinese J-10CE fighter jets, citing the platform's performance in last year's India-Pakistan conflict. Zahed ur Rahman, adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on policy and strategy, said Tuesday that Dhaka has prepared a draft agreement for negotiations over the purchase.
Rahman claimed that Pakistani-operated J-10CEs downed Indian Rafale jets during the conflict, calling the J-10CE a 'well performing' multi-role combat aircraft that is cheaper than the Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon. India has acknowledged suffering air losses but rejected Pakistani claims of shooting down six or more aircraft or any Rafales.
A deal would mark Bangladesh's largest defence procurement in years and deepen ties with China, already its largest military supplier. The move comes amid strained Indo-Bangladeshi relations over deposed premier Sheikh Hasina's refuge in India and Dhaka's demand for her extradition.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Bangladesh's shift toward Chinese fighters reflects a broader realignment under the Tarique Rahman government, which has prioritised Beijing ties since taking office. The J-10CE deal, if finalised, would give Dhaka a 4.5-generation fleet at a reported lower unit cost than Western alternatives, but raises questions about interoperability with India's largely Russian-origin inventory and spares dependence on China. For New Delhi, the sale deepens a strategic worry: a neighbour already hosting Chinese-built submarines and tanks now adding an air combat platform tested against the Rafale. The next signal to watch is whether Bangladesh sends a formal letter of request to Beijing, which would trigger a months-long negotiation over price, delivery timelines and training packages.
Source: m.thewire.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
