Bangladesh is moving towards military mobilization and starting negotiations with China for the acquisition of fighter aircraft J10CE equipped with PL-15. Reuters reported that the number of aircraft being considered would be between 20 and 24, the agreement worth $2.2billion and the expected deliveries start around 2027. This advancement not simply replacing the ageing aircraft but also impacts the balance of power in South Asia and introduces the Chinese air combat system in the Bay of Bengal.
The decision timing for the agreement held importance because J10C gained international attention during the India-Pakistan May 2025 conflict. Pakistan employed J10C equipped with PL-15, which shot down Indian fighter jets. This confrontation demonstrated the combat-proven capability of Chinese air combat technology. This battlefield performance heightened Bangladesh’s interest and attention towards the Chinese technology.
The global arms market was operated under the western dominance for decades; buyers were under the influence of western defense manufacturers because their equipment possessed proven combat credentials, while Chinese arms were largely evaluated on cost-effectiveness and theoretical specifications. In the absence of battlefield combat validation, China faced challenges in establishing the credibility of its advanced avionics and missile systems among international buyers.
The high intensity engagement of Marqa e haq at as a trigger point which change the reality 4.5 generation fighter jets j10Cs were deployed with advanced radar systems and long range missile PL-15 to counter the 5th generation air jets such as Rafael which were proved successful deployment for Bangladesh which was seeking to modernize its air defense affordably this development of Marqa haq reduce the perceived risks which were associated with the acquiring of non-western technology thus Dhaka is procuring the system whose reputation was strengthened by its battlefield employment.
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According to Reuters, China is one of the largest defence equipment suppliers to Bangladesh over the last two decade china supplied tanks, naval warships, and missile systems to Bangladesh. The J10C acquisition will deepen the ties because advanced weapons need long-term training, maintenance, integration and technical support.
The introduction of these weapons will cause a shift in the balance of power in south asia and can cause the security dilemma. India shred border with China in the north and also confronts the Chinese origin airpower from the west through Pakistan. A J10C-equipped Bangladesh would add a new dimension to India’s strategic calculations. The potential acquisition could generate a security dilemma. For Bangladesh, it may be a defensive modernisation improving its air sovereignty, but India will not judge this development beyond the Dhaka-stated intentions, assessing its location, capabilities and the possible future employment.
New Delhi could invest more in the eastern air defence architecture, increasing surveillance, strengthen electronic warfare capabilities. Bangladesh may interpret these measures as a threat to its sovereignty and security, which creates pressure for further investment hence leading to a security spiral where defensive measures by one state create a sense of insecurity for the other state.
Modern air power is not determined only by numerical superiority; it increasingly depends on the integration of command-and-control systems, sensors, intelligence, drones, and electronic warfare. Reuters reported that the conflict accelerated drone competition between India and Pakistan, adding a new dimension to the arms race.
In conclusion the significance of Bangladesh’s J10 CE move lies beyond the procurement itself; it demonstrates the implications of the Pakistan-India May 2025 conflict on the South Asian security environment. The conflict increases attention towards Chinese combat technology and serves as a reference point to evaluate Chinese capabilities. If Bangladesh acquires the J10C and the PL-15, it will introduce additional Chinese air combat into South Asia, which will increase regional competition and intensify the security dilemma, meanwhile strengthen the Chinas regional influence and increase the role of China in South Asia’s security architecture.
