Bangladesh Defense
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Dec 10, 2025
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Joanna Bailey
December 9, 2025
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DefenceDefence & SecurityBAFBangladesh
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Bangladesh has committed to operating the Eurofighter Typhoon, signing a letter of intent with Italy’s Leonardo in Dhaka today.
The LOI was signed at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Present at the signing were Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh H.E. Antonio Alessandro, and other representatives from both the Bangladesh armed forces and Italy.
Photo: Bangladesh Inter-Services Public Relations
In statements to the media, including ANI, Bangladesh confirmed only that “Leonardo S.p.A. will supply Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft to Bangladesh Air Force as a step to include modern Multi-Role Combat Aircraft through this Letter of Intent at the frontline Warcraft of Bangladesh Air Force.”
That statement leaves little clarity as to the number of aircraft Bangladesh is planning to order, though suggestions in the past have been in the region of 10 to 16.
There is also no concrete timeline attached to the deal, nor any indication of whether the fighter jets would be new production models or used aircraft.
Back in 2021, BAF asked the government to earmark around 25,200 crore taka – approximately $3 billion – for the procurement of 16 western-origin multirole fighters. Public documentation shows that, by late 2021, this request was part of its long-term upgrade plans under Forces Goal 2030.
Photo: Bundeswehr
Today’s agreement is not the order for those 16 aircraft, nor does it confirm that this is the plan. While it does demonstrate a level of commitment, there’s still a long way to go before it evolves into a firm acquisition.
The current leadership of the Bangladesh Air Force is pursuing a dual-track fighter jet strategy. For cost-effective capability and cheap mass, the Chinese J-10C is pegged as the aircraft of choice.
Photo: L.G. Images / Flickr
Bangladesh agreed to a purchase of up to 20 J-10C aircraft in October, although it’s not clear just how firm that order is either.
Esrar personally inspected and was briefed on the Eurofighter Typhoon at Farnborough 2016, becoming a strong internal advocate for the aircraft. Shortly after, the BAF launched its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) acquisition programme under Forces Goal 2030.
In May this year, the BAF evaluated the aircraft during a visit to Italy by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan.
Photo: BAF
Over the course of a multi-day visit, the air force chief and a senior BAF pilot flew a Eurofighter test aircraft. Bangladesh had hoped to sign a formal Eurofighter contract during the planned visit of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in August, but the visit was postponed.
Now, with a LOI signed, Bangladesh is a step closer to getting its hands on the Eurofighter. However, many questions remain unanswered, and the deal could drag on for some time yet before it is finalised.
AGN
Bangladesh signs for Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Italy’s Leonardo
The agreement signals renewed momentum for BAF’s long-running MRCA ambitions, though major questions over the scale and timing of any purchase remain unanswered.
Joanna Bailey
December 9, 2025
News
DefenceDefence & SecurityBAFBangladesh
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Bangladesh has committed to operating the Eurofighter Typhoon, signing a letter of intent with Italy’s Leonardo in Dhaka today.
The LOI was signed at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Present at the signing were Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh H.E. Antonio Alessandro, and other representatives from both the Bangladesh armed forces and Italy.
In statements to the media, including ANI, Bangladesh confirmed only that “Leonardo S.p.A. will supply Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft to Bangladesh Air Force as a step to include modern Multi-Role Combat Aircraft through this Letter of Intent at the frontline Warcraft of Bangladesh Air Force.”
That statement leaves little clarity as to the number of aircraft Bangladesh is planning to order, though suggestions in the past have been in the region of 10 to 16.
There is also no concrete timeline attached to the deal, nor any indication of whether the fighter jets would be new production models or used aircraft.
What we know about the Bangladesh Eurofighter Typhoon order so far
With very little detail on the size, type of timeline for the order, today’s LOI confirms little more than a weak intent to begin the formal negotiations.Back in 2021, BAF asked the government to earmark around 25,200 crore taka – approximately $3 billion – for the procurement of 16 western-origin multirole fighters. Public documentation shows that, by late 2021, this request was part of its long-term upgrade plans under Forces Goal 2030.
Today’s agreement is not the order for those 16 aircraft, nor does it confirm that this is the plan. While it does demonstrate a level of commitment, there’s still a long way to go before it evolves into a firm acquisition.
The current leadership of the Bangladesh Air Force is pursuing a dual-track fighter jet strategy. For cost-effective capability and cheap mass, the Chinese J-10C is pegged as the aircraft of choice.
Bangladesh agreed to a purchase of up to 20 J-10C aircraft in October, although it’s not clear just how firm that order is either.
The BAF has been chasing the Eurofighter Typhoon for a decade
Bangladesh has been vocal about its interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon for more than a decade. In 2015, incoming BAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar concluded that Chinese and Russian fighters no longer provided sufficient deterrence against regional peers.Esrar personally inspected and was briefed on the Eurofighter Typhoon at Farnborough 2016, becoming a strong internal advocate for the aircraft. Shortly after, the BAF launched its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) acquisition programme under Forces Goal 2030.
In May this year, the BAF evaluated the aircraft during a visit to Italy by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan.
Over the course of a multi-day visit, the air force chief and a senior BAF pilot flew a Eurofighter test aircraft. Bangladesh had hoped to sign a formal Eurofighter contract during the planned visit of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in August, but the visit was postponed.
Now, with a LOI signed, Bangladesh is a step closer to getting its hands on the Eurofighter. However, many questions remain unanswered, and the deal could drag on for some time yet before it is finalised.
