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Albee Zhang

Bangladesh has for the first time confirmed a long-expected deal to buy Chinese 4.5-generation J-10CE fighters, pointing to the jet’s combat performance against Rafale jets in last year’s India-Pakistan conflict.
One military expert said it was a sign that the global perception of Chinese weapons was shifting and the market would gradually open.
Zahed Ur Rahman, information and broadcasting adviser to the prime minister of Bangladesh, said on Tuesday that a draft proposal to buy the Chinese J-10CE had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Armed Forces Division for final approval, according to the website of the Press Information Department (PID) of Bangladesh on Wednesday.
The draft proposal also includes the purchase of Chinese attack helicopters, VIP transport helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, according to the PID, the government’s official news distribution wing.
“Subject to necessary budgetary allocation in the current fiscal year, this procurement will be executed immediately; otherwise, it will roll over into the next budget cycle,” it said. Bangladesh’s current budget year runs from July of this year to June of next year.


Rahman said Bangladesh had “paid attention” to the conflict between Pakistan and India in May of last year, when Pakistan reportedly used J-10CE fighters equipped with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles to shoot down Indian Rafale fighters.
“There is a recent real-world experience in a combat situation … So, Bangladesh has paid attention to that and, hopefully, we are moving very well in this path,” he said, according to video footage of the press briefing.
“Compared with Rafales of similar quality, or European variants such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the price of Chinese fighter jets is comparatively much lower. But I repeat, it performed better in head-on combat.”
The Business Standard said Dhaka was set to spend US$2.3 billion to buy 20 J-10CE fighters, citing a report from the Armed Forces Division.
The Bangladeshi newspaper reported that the cost of each fighter rose from a base price of US$62.7 million to nearly US$115 million after accounting for training, logistics, construction and other related expenses.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military analyst and former air force officer, said the J-10CE was the cheapest option among several medium-weight fighters including the US-made F-16 and the Dassault Rafale from France.
“In my personal view, the J-10CE offers the best overall performance. It uses an [AESA] radar with a relatively large aperture, giving it long-range detection, strong multi-target tracking and engagement capabilities,” Fu said.
He added that the J-10CE had been upgraded to a semi-stealth fighter from a non-stealth platform, as it was coated with radar-absorbing materials.
Bangladesh is China’s second-biggest arms buyer after Pakistan, which was the first country to order J-10CE fighters from China.
Dhaka is seeking to modernise its ageing fleet. It has 36 F-7MG fighters in service, according to a report by aviation publisher FlightGlobal. The F-7MG is a derivative of China’s J-7 series designed for Bangladesh.
The South Asian country also has trainer aircraft from China, including the K-8, along with Chinese tanks, vessels and missiles.
“Bangladesh buying the J-10CE is a natural choice, and the only limiting factor now is their budget,” Fu said. “Now that they have publicly made this statement, it shows their mind is made up.”
“Through real-world combat, people are gaining a new perspective on Chinese-made weapons,” Fu said, adding that the market would gradually open up and continue to expand.
He said it would be hard to open the warplane market, now dominated by the US and Europe, but Chinese missile exports – especially short- and mid-range missiles – could be quite promising.


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Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says


Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says.


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Fu Qianshao

Bangladesh confirms Chinese J-10CE jet deal, citing Rafale kill in India-Pakistan clash

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says

Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says