In what could become Bangladesh’s first big purchase of a Western-built fighter jet, the country is learnt to have signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Italy’s aerospace major Leonardo S.p.A. for the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft – Eurofighter Typhoon. Built on the strength of Germany, UK, Spain and Italy, the aircraft is in service in 10 nations including the UK, Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh’s decision to sign the LoI with Leonardo marks a potentially transformative moment for the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). If negotiations progress to a contract, this would be Bangladesh’s first major purchase of a Western-built multi-role combat aircraft, signalling a strategic shift in procurement philosophy and interoperability.
According to an army official, cited by news agency Reuters, the LoI is a preliminary step to open talks, with aircraft numbers yet to be finalised. The move fits into a broader aviation reset by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which has taken several high-profile decisions aimed at modernising air capabilities.
Bangladesh’s Eurofighter Typhoon deal: Why is it significant now?
The Typhoon talks come amid a recalibration of Bangladesh’s external economic and defence engagements. In July 2025, Dhaka announced plans to buy 25 Boeing aircraft, partly to avoid a proposed 35% US import tariff. For the BAF, traditionally reliant on non-Western platformsm bringing in a frontline European fighter would be a doctrinal and logistical leap, enabling access to advanced sensors, weapons, training ecosystems.
Eurofighter Typhoon: What Bangladesh could be getting
A lightweight, twin-engine, multi-role fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon designed for air dominance with robust strike capability. It is known for speed, agility and sensor fusion. Here’s a look at the speed, sensors, other key capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon:
Maximum speed: Mach 2
Service ceiling: Above 55,000 ft
Powerplant: Two Eurojet EJ200 turbofans
Radar & sensors: AESA radar, Infrared Search and Track (IRST), advanced data fusion
Weapons & payload: 13 hardpoints for flexible air-to-air and air-to-ground loads
The aircraft’s supercruise capability, modular avionics and mission-tailored defensive aids deliver high survivability with comparatively lower operating costs than heavier fighters. As of late 2025, more than 760 Typhoons have been built or ordered, underscoring its maturity and global footprint.
For Bangladesh, the Typhoon would offer credible air defence, precision strike and maritime roles, while aligning the BAF with NATO-standard systems.
How the Eurofighter compares with France’s Dassault Rafale
If Bangladesh evaluates alternatives, or benchmarks its choice, the Dassault Rafale inevitably features in the conversation. Both are top-tier European fighters, but they emphasise different strengths.
Design Philosophy
Eurofighter Typhoon: Optimised for air superiority with strong strike capability; excels in high-speed interception and agile combat.
Rafale: A true omni-role fighter, designed to switch seamlessly across missions with heavy payloads and extended range.
Performance & Payload
Typhoon: Faster (Mach 2), higher ceiling; excellent kinematics.
Rafale: Slightly slower (Mach 1.8) but carries heavier external loads (up to 9,500 kg) with impressive range and short-field performance.
Sensors & Survivability
Typhoon: AESA radar, IRST, advanced sensor fusion and mission-specific defensive aids.
Rafale: RBE2 AESA radar paired with SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, widely regarded as one of the most advanced self-protection systems in service, enabling operations in heavily contested environments.
Weapons Integration
Both support advanced beyond-visual-range missiles like Meteor.
Rafale adds deep-strike credentials with SCALP cruise missiles and a highly mature targeting ecosystem (TALIOS pod).
Worth mentioning here is that the Eurofighter Typhoon offers the required amount of interoperability to partner with assets from other Nations over multiple, complex domains until 2060 and beyond.