The Bangladesh Air Pressure has signed a letter of intent with Italian producer Leonardo for the long run provision of Eurofighter Storm multirole fighter plane.
In one other step in direction of implementing the plans set out within the Bangladesh army’s Forces Objective 2030 modernisation program, the letter of intent (LOI) was signed on the headquarters of the Bangladesh Air Pressure (BAF) on Dec. 9, 2025, within the presence of Chief of Air Employees Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh H.E. Antonio Alessandro, and different representatives from each the Bangladesh armed forces and from Italy.
Leonardo, who comprise 21% of the Eurofighter consortium, is appearing because the lead on this procurement, and any ensuing order will nearly definitely see the Storm plane bear remaining meeting in Turin, Italy. Representatives of the BAF visited Turin earlier in 2025 to check fly and consider the Storm, utilizing the ISPA 6 (Instrumented Sequence Manufacturing Plane) airframe fitted with the Captor-E energetic electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and P3Eb (Part 3 Enhancements Bundle b) upgrades.
#ExclusiveBangladesh Air Pressure has began evaluating Eurofighter Storm fight plane. Bangladesh Air Pressure chief and a senior BAF pilot carried out a flight on Eurofighter throughout the latest go to to Italy. COAS additionally evaluated varied UAV, helicopters and C-130 facility. pic.twitter.com/ptYdhBnDr3
— Protection Expertise of Bangladesh-DTB (@DefenseDtb) Could 19, 2025
Although the precise variety of plane to be ordered will possible not be totally finalised till a manufacturing order is signed, earlier bulletins have alluded to a want for between 10 and 16 Storm (or equal Western sort) plane. France had made representations on behalf of Dassault’s Rafale, although the Storm has lengthy been obvious because the front-runner. The plane will kind a part of the BAF’s substitute for its Chengdu J-7s, a MiG-21 by-product, and its MiG-29s.
Whereas the BAF signed for and subsequently took supply of Russian Yak-130 jet trainers within the 2010s, rising logistical points and the onset of sanctions towards Russia as a result of ongoing battle in Ukraine is assumed to have dissuaded the power from procuring extra Russian varieties. Bangladesh stays pleasant with China, and they’re tipped to additionally purchase Chengdu J-10Cs which might serve alongside the Typhoons. There are moreover rumors relating to a purchase order of JF-17 Thunder fighters from Pakistan.
With or with out the JF-17s, the distinctive mixture of Eurofighter Typhoons and Chengdu J-10Cs could be a potent power and an unlimited enchancment over the BAF’s present fight capabilities.
Upon entry to service, assuming it takes place after the primary Turkish supply, Bangladesh would turn into the eleventh operator of the Storm worldwide, and the primary outdoors of Europe and the Center East. The area’s marketplace for European fighter plane has beforehand been cornered by the Dassault Rafale, ordered by Indonesia and operated by India, and the Saab Gripen, operated by Thailand.
The BAF’s plane will possible be of Tranche 4 customary, with the primary deliveries of Tranche 5 plane to any buyer not anticipated till the early 2030s. Any finalised contract will possible additionally embody associated weapons to be used by the BAF’s Typhoons, as they won’t be straight appropriate with the nation’s current Russian and Chinese language-designed missile shares.
Leonardo in Bangladesh
The Storm would turn into the most recent plane in Bangladesh’s stock supported by defence business large Leonardo. The nation presently operates AW109, AW119, and AW139 helicopters in coaching, search and rescue, and utility roles.
The Bangladesh Navy has formally inducted two Leonardo AW109 naval utility helicopters and two Schiebel S-100 CAMCOPTER unmanned aerial car programs, marking one more milestone in its long-term modernisation drive. The announcement was made by the Chief of Naval Employees,…
— BDMilitary (@BDMILITARY) November 29, 2025
Moreover, as a part of its drive to modernise, Bangladesh has commissioned a lot of Falco unmanned aerial automobiles. The Falco was initially developed by Selex ES, which has now been absorbed into the broader Leonardo model. The drones function an asset in Bangladesh’s committment to United Nations peacekeeping obligations – the nation is presently the third largest contributor by variety of personnel to UN peacekeeping missions – and along with offering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) they may also be outfitted with Turkish-made 70 mm CIRIT laser-guided missiles.
#ExclusiveBangladesh Air Pressure has built-in Turkish @roketsan cirit 70mm laser guided missiles in Selex Falco Astore UAV programs. @TyrannosurusRex pic.twitter.com/NZvl5UbgJI
— Protection Expertise of Bangladesh-DTB (@DefenseDtb) August 21, 2023
In 2019, Bangladesh ordered Leonardo’s KRONOS LAND air surveillance radar. Coincidentally, the expertise used within the KRONOS household is said to that featured within the CAPTOR-E or E-SCAN AESA radar for the Storm. Leonardo Seaspray 5000E maritime surveillance radars have additionally been procured for the Bangladesh Navy’s Dornier Do 228 patrol plane.
Forces Objective 2030 included a future requirement for a long-range maritime surveillance plane, which Leonardo may in future provide with its ATR 72MP product, or perhaps a future Bombardier World-based platform. Bangladesh oversees an unique financial zone (EEZ) within the Bay of Bengal of over 118,000 sq. kilometres, and maritime piracy within the area has been described as a ‘ticking time bomb’.
