# Bangladesh to Buy 46 Fighter Jets and 6 World‑Class Attack Helicopters

> Bangladesh Air Force is modernizing to strengthen air defense, planning to buy 10 Italian Eurofighter Typhoons, 20 Chinese J-10Cs, 16 Pakistani JF-17s, and six Turkish T-129 attack helicopters. A 12-member inter-ministe…

Published: 2026-09-17 · Desk: Latest · Source: Kalerkantho

The Bangladesh Air Force was established with the motto of keeping the skies of Bengal free. Its primary mission is to protect the nation’s airspace from external threats, supporting the Army and Navy in conventional warfare. Thanks to their advanced training, Air Force personnel are recognized globally for their expertise in flying, operating, and managing aircraft.

However, the Air Force has long faced a shortage of modern fighter jets and helicopters. To address this, the interim government is taking significant steps to strengthen air defense and modernize the force. Bangladesh plans to acquire Italian-made Eurofighter Typhoon jets, Chinese J-10C fighters, Pakistani JF-17 aircraft, and Turkey’s advanced T-129 attack helicopters.

Planned Purchases and Committee Formation
Sources indicate that Bangladesh aims to buy 10 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Italy and six T-129 attack helicopters from Turkey by 2027. In-principle approval and government-to-government (G2G) agreements are being pursued, with final decisions pending discussions with officials from Italy and Turkey.

To oversee the procurement, the Air Force has tasked an Air Vice Marshal to lead a 12-member inter-ministerial committee, including representatives from the Office of the Chief Adviser, Ministries of Defense, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Law, Economic Relations, National Board of Revenue, Armed Forces Division, and Air Headquarters. Ministries and departments are asked to nominate members by the 20th of this month. This committee will negotiate contracts, finalize prices, and ensure proper maintenance, training, spare parts management, and other related arrangements. The government aims to finalize these purchases within the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Earlier in April, Bangladesh initiated discussions with China to acquire 20 J-10C multirole fighters at a cost of $2.2 billion (about 27,600 million BDT), covering aircraft, training, and related expenses. In addition, 16 JF-17 jets are being purchased from Pakistan at an estimated cost of $720 million (about 8,856 million BDT).

Modernization and Strategic Importance
Officials highlight that modernization is urgent due to regional tensions, including crises in Pakistan-India, China-India, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, the Chicken Neck region, Myanmar, and global hotspots. The government’s initiative aims to strengthen sovereignty, fulfill public aspirations, and overcome previous limitations imposed by past administrations that stalled military modernization.

Former Assistant Chief of the Air Force, Air Commodore (Retd.) Md. Shafiqul Islam, stated, “The procurement of aircraft and helicopters marks the beginning of Air Force modernization. Future steps will include improving enemy detection, communication, surveillance, live information systems, technical infrastructure, logistics, and networks. Skilled manpower is already available, as demonstrated by Bangladeshi Living Eagle Saiful Azam, who shot down an Israeli aircraft with a relatively weaker plane.”

Regarding aircraft quality, he added, “The Eurofighter Typhoon and J-10C are world-class jets. NATO countries operate the Eurofighter, which has long-range capabilities and anti-ship missiles to protect naval forces. Chinese aircraft are cost-effective and free from restrictive conditions, unlike certain American-purchased equipment used by Pakistan and Egypt. Turkish T-129 helicopters are heavily armed, capable, and radar-evasive.”

Aircraft and Helicopter Specifications

- Italy’s Eurofighter Typhoon: A multi-role NATO-standard fighter with air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare capabilities. It has two Eurojet EJ200 engines, a top speed of 2,495 km/h, a range of 2,900 km, and a service ceiling of 55,000 feet. Its delta-wing and canard design provides exceptional maneuverability.

- Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder: A lightweight, all-weather multirole fighter developed by Pakistan and China. It can conduct air-to-air and air-to-surface combat under any condition, equipped with advanced computer-controlled flight, modern weapons, and anti-radiation missiles.

- Turkey’s T-129 Attack Helicopter: A two-seat, twin-engine helicopter suited for attack and reconnaissance missions in all weather conditions. Armed with a 20 mm rotary cannon, missiles, and rockets.

- China’s J-10C: A single-engine fighter known for maneuverability and high-speed evasion. Its maximum speed is about 2,415 km/h, capable of top-speed and high-altitude combat.

Current Air Force Fleet
Bangladesh Air Force currently operates 212 aircraft, including 44 fighter jets. Among these, 36 are Chinese-made F-7s, 8 MiG-29Bs, and a small fleet of Yak-130s for training and light combat. The force also uses Mil Mi-17 helicopters for troop transport and gunship roles, C-130J aircraft for tactical transport, and K-8 trainers for pilot instruction.

Original reporting: https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/first-page/2025/10/15/1591734?fbclid=Iwb21leANcEGxjbGNrA1wPWWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe750ApxJ0WQzftMEduryZOlMeC1dL-o9_kq4NR2I0Mv1oayPo8Rz8jXGYRgQ_aem_9feDXKljjSAkAwh204G6QA&fbclid=IwY2xjawNcNE9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFBQTUwVnNZc0JKY0F0b2FtAR47v80HnS8b5mx3Gv0XBOyvA0pAbZ3sU-NA8MY-bmuuwxVo8LXuZSf1QClXtg_aem_Wb3feADCe3LjVdAq3va_xA
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