The Bangladesh Air Force has signed a letter of intent with Leonardo to purchase Eurofighter Typhoon jets as part of an ongoing effort to modernize its existing fleet.

"The agreement was signed yesterday and marks a preliminary step towards initiating discussions," said a military official.

The air force has not disclosed how many of the multirole military aircraft--developed jointly by Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain--it intends to acquire.

The move by Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, comes amid a series of significant decisions in the field of aviation.

In July, Bangladesh announced its intention to purchase 25 Boeing aircraft to avoid the 35% import tariff proposed by President Donald Trump. This announcement raised questions about a previous plan to acquire 10 Airbus planes, a commitment made under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the outcome of which remains uncertain following her ousting.

If finalized, the Typhoon deal would represent Bangladesh's first major purchase of a Western-manufactured combat jet.

There is no official data on the number of aircraft currently operated by the Bangladesh Air Force. Defense analysts estimate the fleet at around 200 aircraft, including nearly 50 fighter jets.

(Translated by Jasmine Mazzarello, edited by Andrea Mandalà)