Rs 182600000000: Big setback for Rafale! Anti-India Yunus-led Bangladesh likely to acquire China’s deadly ‘Vigorous Dragon’ fighter jet, it is…, features…

The Rafale’s dominance in South Asia seems to be losing its altitude. When French President Emmanuel Macron made his historic visit to Bangladesh in 2023, it was hoped that Rafale jets might find a new market. Now Bangladesh has turned its back on France and is reportedly prepping to make China’s deadly J-10CE “Vigorous Dragon” fighter jet its new military muscle.

Who is leading Bangladesh’s defense push to acquire the J-10CE “Vigorous Dragon”?

This $2.2 billion deal(Tk 27,060 crore) has struck a significant blow to France. Bangladesh has been attempting to modernize its air force for months, initially looking to European jets. The Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon were the primary competitors in the bidding war to fulfill Bangladesh’s request. Using a conversion rate of 1 USD ≈ 83 INR, the amount in Indian Rupees comes to 182,600,000,000 INR.

According to the Eurasian Times report, the contract, which is estimated to be valued at around USD 2.2 billion, includes costs associated with acquisition, training, maintenance, and related costs. The Bangladeshi government is expected to sign it as a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. Furthermore, the report suggests that the deal is expected to be finalized in the 2026 or 2027 fiscal year.

What is the J-10CE fighter jet and why is it considered deadly?

French President Emmanuel Macron personally came to Dhaka to demonstrate the Rafale’s capabilities, but now the tables have turned. According to reports, it appears that the Bangladesh government is on the verge of finalizing a deal to procure 20 fighter jets from China, specifically the J-10CE multirole fighter jets. The deal will almost certainly be finalized under a government-to-government (G2G) process in either FY2026 or FY2027.

Based on documents cited in Bangladeshi media, the payments are anticipated to be made in installments over a period of 10 fiscal years, concluding in the 2035–36 financial year, as reported by the EurAsian Times. The purchase is part of the broader approach to modernize and upgrade the military in Bangladesh within the framework of Forces Goals 2030.

Which features make the J-10CE superior to older fighter jets like F-7 or K-8W?

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) already possesses 16 Chengdu J-7 fighter jets from China. In addition, during the FY 2017-18, Bangladesh floated a tender for eight (8) Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA), with an option to purchase four (4) additional aircraft in the second tranche.

The J-10CE is China’s 4.5-generation multirole fighter aircraft, derived from the export variant, J-10C. It has advanced features such as AESA radar, long-range capabilities. J-10C fighters are the same aircraft Pakistan asserted had downed Indian Rafale jets in a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in 2025, a version that India firmly disputed.

The J-10C has been inducted by the air forces of China, Pakistan, and now Bangladesh, which means the “Chinese Dragon” has now marked its contours across all three South Asian states. The J-10C is an improved variant of the J-10B. It includes an indigenous AESA radar, an imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, a WS-10B engine, and a PL-15 air-to-air missile.

The J-10 C is often reviewed against upgraded versions of the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. Like the F-16, the J-10 uses a very agile, aerodynamically unstable airframe stabilized by a computer in its fly-by-wire flight control system, as mentioned by EuraAsian Times.

The capabilities of the J-10 include beyond-visual-range engagement, precision air-to-ground strike capabilities, digital (glass) cockpit instruments, in-flight refueling, and electronic warfare capabilities. According to 2024 data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), after Pakistan, Bangladesh is the second largest importer of Chinese weaponry.

Substantial advancements were made towards the agreement during the chief advisor of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s trip to China. Subsequently, an 11-member inter-ministerial committee was formed, headed by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan. The committee is now addressing with China all questions, including pricing, payment, and contractual arrangements.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  1. Bangladesh has been attempting to modernize its air force for months.
  2. The J-10CE is China’s 4.5-generation multirole fighter aircraft.
  3. According to 2024 data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Bangladesh is the second largest importer of Chinese weaponry.
  4. The J-10C has been inducted by the air forces of China and Pakistan.

The base price per aircraft is reportedly $60 million, but with ancillary costs, which include training, equipment, taxes, and insurance, the total deal is $2.2 billion. China has indicated support for the idea with an expectation of formalizing an agreement in the near future. The Bangladesh Air Force has voiced alarms over technical issues concerning the F-7 fighter jets, short-range air defense systems, and firing ammunition for its K-8W aircraft manufactured in China.

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