Bangladesh is on the cusp of one of the most consequential airpower transformations in South Asia since the end of the Cold War, as Dhaka moves decisively to finalise the acquisition of 10 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft from Italy alongside six Turkish-built T-129 ATAK attack helicopters, according to local Bangladesh media.
This dual-track modernisation effort signals not merely a generational upgrade of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), but a strategic recalibration of the country’s defence posture amid an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific security environment. Together, the two acquisitions represent a deliberate shift away from reliance on ageing Soviet- and Chinese-era platforms toward a technologically advanced, network-centric, and Western-interoperable air combat ecosystem.
The convergence of these procurements under the long-running “Forces Goal 2030” programme reflects a growing recognition within Bangladesh’s strategic leadership that airpower has become the decisive currency of deterrence, escalation control, and crisis response in South Asia. In an era where air forces increasingly serve as the first instrument of national power—both in conventional conflict and grey-zone contingencies—Dhaka is betting on qualitative superiority rather than numerical mass.
The signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Eurofighter Typhoon Consortium on 9 December 2025 at Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka, combined with advanced negotiations with Turkish Aerospace Industries for the T-129 ATAK, marks a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s defence trajectory. It redefines not only procurement philosophy, but long-term air combat doctrine, strategic autonomy, and regional signalling.
At its core, Bangladesh’s modernisation push is not driven solely by platform replacement. Instead, it reflects a deeper institutional recognition that legacy fighters such as the Chengdu F-7 interceptors and ageing MiG-29 Fulcrums are increasingly ill-suited for modern warfare defined by beyond-visual-range combat, electronic warfare, and integrated air defence systems.
Spare-parts shortages, rising maintenance costs, and limited upgrade pathways have forced Dhaka to confront a stark reality: without a decisive leap into modern multirole combat aviation, Bangladesh risks strategic irrelevance even within its own airspace.
This urgency has been magnified by evolving regional pressures. Periodic border tensions with Myanmar, the accelerating militarisation of the Bay of Bengal, and the intensification of great-power competition across the Indo-Pacific have all placed a premium on credible air surveillance, rapid response, and airspace denial capabilities. For a country whose population centres, economic lifelines, and maritime trade routes are acutely vulnerable to aerial coercion, airpower modernisation has become existential rather than optional.
The Eurofighter Typhoon represents a dramatic leap in combat capability for the Bangladesh Air Force, introducing a level of air dominance, sensor fusion, and multirole flexibility that fundamentally alters Dhaka’s position within the South Asian airpower hierarchy.
Designed as a true swing-role platform, the Typhoon can seamlessly transition between air superiority, deep strike, maritime attack, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions within a single sortie. Powered by twin EJ200 turbofan engines, it offers sustained supercruise above Mach 1.5, exceptional climb rates, and a high thrust-to-weight ratio—critical attributes for rapid interception and defensive counter-air operations.
At the heart of the Typhoon’s combat effectiveness lies its advanced sensor suite, anchored by the CAPTOR-E AESA radar, which provides long-range detection, multi-target tracking, electronic attack capability, and strong resistance to jamming. This gives the BAF a decisive information advantage in any future air combat scenario.
Bangladesh’s planned acquisition of 10 Typhoons—likely in advanced Tranche 3 or Tranche 4 configurations—is estimated to cost between US$2 billion and US$3 billion, inclusive of training, spares, logistics, and weapons integration. The weapons package is expected to include the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, widely regarded as one of the most lethal BVR weapons in service, along with precision strike munitions such as Brimstone and Paveway-series bombs.
The LOI signed in December formally articulated Dhaka’s intent to proceed, with the BAF stating that Leonardo would supply Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets under the agreement. Officials emphasised that the aircraft would “elevate our air combat capabilities to meet 21st-century threats,” underscoring the programme’s strategic weight and political backing at the highest levels.
Beyond performance, the Typhoon acquisition carries deep strategic significance. It marks Bangladesh’s first major foray into Western fighter aviation, signalling a deliberate diversification away from exclusive dependence on Russian and Chinese platforms. This reduces exposure to geopolitical supply disruptions, sanctions risk, and technology access constraints, while opening the door to deeper interoperability with NATO-aligned air forces.
However, the Typhoon also brings challenges. Operating costs—estimated at around US$20,000 per flight hour—will demand sustained investment in infrastructure, logistics, and human capital. Airbases such as Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre and Kurmitola will require upgrades, including hardened shelters, advanced maintenance facilities, and secure data networks.
Equally demanding is the transition for BAF pilots and ground crews to Western fly-by-wire systems, digital mission planning, and complex logistics chains. This will necessitate extended overseas training and institutional adaptation, testing the service’s absorptive capacity.
Complementing the high-end air superiority role of the Typhoon, Bangladesh’s planned acquisition of six T-129 ATAK attack helicopters addresses a long-standing gap in its ability to deliver persistent, precision close air support across diverse operational environments.
Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries in collaboration with AgustaWestland, the ATAK is optimised for counter-insurgency, border security, and battlefield interdiction. Equipped with advanced electro-optical sensors, the Aselsan AVCI helmet-mounted cueing system, and fully digital avionics, it enables rapid target acquisition and engagement at low altitude in complex terrain.
Its weapons suite—including UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, Cirit laser-guided rockets, and a 20mm chin-mounted cannon—provides scalable precision firepower ideally suited for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, border regions, and riverine environments.
Valued at approximately US$600 million, the ATAK deal builds on Bangladesh’s expanding defence relationship with Turkey, reflecting Ankara’s emergence as a flexible and competitive defence supplier. Turkish willingness to offer technology transfer and local maintenance support aligns closely with the industrial ambitions embedded in Forces Goal 2030.
The combined acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoons and T-129 ATAKs carries profound implications for South Asian security dynamics. With advanced fighters potentially deployed at northern airbases, Bangladesh gains a credible air defence and interception capability that complicates any adversary’s operational planning.
This shift has drawn attention in neighbouring capitals, where analysts are reassessing Bangladesh’s evolving role within the regional military balance—particularly in relation to India’s own air force modernisation and Myanmar’s changing military posture.
Beyond military effects, the deals function as instruments of strategic signalling. By engaging Italy, the broader Eurofighter consortium, and Turkey simultaneously, Dhaka is reinforcing a multi-vector foreign policy that avoids over-dependence on any single power bloc while enhancing diplomatic leverage.
This diversification is further underlined by Bangladesh’s parallel procurement of Chinese J-10CE fighters and Pakistani JF-17 Block III aircraft, reflecting a portfolio approach that balances capability, cost, and political alignment.
Ultimately, the induction of Eurofighter Typhoons and T-129 ATAK helicopters marks not merely a modernisation milestone, but a structural transformation of the Bangladesh Air Force’s operational philosophy, technological foundation, and strategic relevance.
The success of this effort will depend not only on hardware acquisition, but on training, doctrine development, command-and-control reform, and sustainment discipline. If executed effectively, Bangladesh’s air force modernisation could emerge as one of the most significant defence success stories in South Asia.
Crucially, the transition will enhance the Bangladesh Air Force’s ability to deter coercion, manage escalation, and preserve national sovereignty in an increasingly volatile Indo-Pacific security environment—where control of the skies is rapidly becoming synonymous with control of national destiny.
