Bangladesh Air Force PURCHASED Advanced J-10C Fighter Jets

Earlier in 2017 Beijing offered $1 billion loan to Dhaka to buy military aircrafts from China, which was made under Bangladesh Air Force fighter aircraft procurement program. It includes Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group’s J-10C multirole fighter jets for BAF. This is the latest variant of the J-10, of which Chinese air force operating 250+ units and PLANAF has 24+ jets in active services.

Bangladeshi pilots are being trained in China to fly them. These J-10C fighter aircrafts will hugely boost Bangladesh Air Force’s operational capabilities to a new level. Gradually older combat jets will be phased out by these birds, mostly Chengdu built F-7 series aircrafts. 

On the other side of the page, myanmar air force reportedly buying 6 Su-30MK from Russia. Bangladesh Air Force wanted to buy Su-30SME or Su-35. But Moscow tricked Dhaka with prices. And then offered their new development Mig-3 Fulcrum-F multipurpose fighter jet which has been claimed as 4++ generation fighter jet by the developer. 

China offered their J-10B along with some other military planes, includes, an AEW&C aircraft, one Y-20 heavy military airlifter and one more squadron of K-8W Karakorum jet trainer aircrafts. Granted, BAF wants Russian Sukhoi series fighter jets more than Chinese ones, but this J-10C with most advanced AESA radar. This Chinese jet is powered by a single AL-31FN or WS-10A turbofan engine.

This is reported in various Chinese and international military aviation news outlets that Chengdu Aerospace Industry Group tests new PL-10 & long range PL-15 air-to-air missiles. China will also provide technology to manufacture some components of the J-10C in Bangladesh. Weaponry of the Bangladeshi J-10Cs will include anti-shipping/anti-surface warfare missiles, most of the precision guided weapons and long-range & shorter-range air-to-air missiles.

This latest version of the J-10 is really has some dangerous stings which made it lethal in air. For enemies like myanmar air force J-10C’s weapons load are enough to thwart their naval aggression in the Bay of Bengal. These jets also can intercept or carry out pre-emptive strikes on burmese military positions to stop further human rights violation by them.

So, ultimately procurement of the J-10Cs by the Bangladesh Air Force is a huge boost for the country’s air power. It was needed some couple of years ago, but now it’s not too late to have. Hope BAF will make the J-10C is the working horse, while Su-35/Mig-35 can be deployed as the high-end solutions.