Simantik Dowerah
With Bangladesh considering upgrades to its ageing fighter jets, including the potential acquisition of China’s J-10C Vigorous Dragon, the security scenario in South Asia is poised for change. Currently led by a government less aligned with India, Bangladesh is rapidly moving closer to China—a trend reminiscent of Pakistan on India’s western front. While Bangladesh looks to enhance its defence capabilities the pace of its alignment with Beijing is striking as it does not has an adversarial relationship with any of its immediate neighbours. However, it fits well in China's scheme of things of encircling India with military allies.
Bangladesh's push for modernisation
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) operates a fleet of ageing aircraft, including the F-7MG and MiG-29 fighters, which are in urgent need of replacement. Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan’s recent visit to China underscores Dhaka’s ambition to modernise its fleet with multirole combat aircraft and attack helicopters.
According to a South China Morning Post report, Khan attended China’s Zhuhai Air Show and met with officials from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, signalling Bangladesh’s intent to strengthen defence ties with Beijing. Reports indicate that Dhaka is considering acquiring 16 J-10CE fighters, the export variant of the 4.5-generation J-10C, as part of its initial fleet upgrade.
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