By demonstrating that China and Pakistan cannot replace Russian engines and that the aircraft will be predictable for India, which has seen its operational use, Russian defense analysts think that providing RD-93 engines to Pakistan for JF-17 jets might help India.
India might benefit from the rumored sale of RD-93 engines to Pakistan for the JF-17, according to Russian defense analysts on Sunday. Additionally, they rejected as unjustified the opposition's criticism of the Indian government on the subject."I don't think the criticism here is justified," stated Pyotr Topychkanov, head of the Primakov Institute's Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia in Moscow. India actually gains from Russia supplying engines for the JF-17 in two ways, if sources are to be believed.
"First of all, it demonstrates that China and Pakistan have yet to replace the Russian-origin engine," he continued. Second, given that they have the same engine and that India witnessed the JF-17's operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor), the new aircraft will be recognizable and foreseeable to the country.
"First of all, it demonstrates that China and Pakistan have yet to replace the Russian-origin engine," he continued. Second, given that they have the same engine and that India witnessed the JF-17's operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor), the new aircraft will be recognizable and foreseeable to the country.
Topychkanov noted that both the NDA and UPA governments, under Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh, had expressed concerns about the possible transfer of these engines to Pakistan, and that China had approached Russia to provide RD-93 engines for its FC-17 aircraft as a temporary fix.
Another expert, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that he "vaguely remembers discussions on the issue." He continued, "Moscow convinced New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial without transfer of technology (ToT), while India was given license for much superior RD-33 engines under ToT."
Another expert, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that he "vaguely remembers discussions on the issue." He continued, "Moscow convinced New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial without transfer of technology (ToT), while India was given license for much superior RD-33 engines under ToT."
Compared to its base RD-33s, the Klimov plant's RD-93 has higher thrust but a shorter service life. The service life of the RD-33 is 4,000 hours, whereas that of the RD-93 is 2,200 hours.
Since the early 2000s, Russia has been providing fully completed RD-93 engines under a trilateral deal between China, Pakistan, and Russia. Pakistan is now working toward a modified version that has not yet been created.
The sale was not officially announced.
Congress and BJP on JF-17 engines
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday called on the government to explain why Russia, India's "once most reliable strategic ally," is giving Pakistan military backing by selling engines for JF-17 fighter jets manufactured in China.
Since the early 2000s, Russia has been providing fully completed RD-93 engines under a trilateral deal between China, Pakistan, and Russia. Pakistan is now working toward a modified version that has not yet been created.
The sale was not officially announced.
Congress and BJP on JF-17 engines
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday called on the government to explain why Russia, India's "once most reliable strategic ally," is giving Pakistan military backing by selling engines for JF-17 fighter jets manufactured in China.
On Sunday, the BJP criticized the Congress for bringing up the subject on social media, accusing it of siding with the "enemy" rather than India, and referred to claims that Russia was moving forward with supplying Pakistan with JF-17 jet engines as "reckless information warfare."
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