Russian Experts: Sale of JF-17 Engines to Pakistan Actually Benefits India's Strategic Position

Russia has been supplying fully assembled RD-93 engines since the early 2000s.

Moscow:

Russian defense experts indicated on Sunday that the alleged sale of RD-93 engines to Pakistan for JF-17 fighter jets would actually provide advantages to India, challenging opposition criticism against the Indian government on this matter as unwarranted.

"The criticism in this case lacks justification. If the reports regarding Russia providing engines for JF-17 are accurate, it actually creates two benefits for India," stated Pyotr Topychkanov, who leads the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the esteemed Moscow-based Primakov Institute, in his comments to PTI.

"First, it demonstrates that China and Pakistan have not yet succeeded in replacing the Russian-origin engine. Second, the new aircraft will be recognizable and predictable to India, particularly since they utilize the same engine, and India has observed the JF-17's operational performance during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor)," he elaborated.

Topychkanov mentioned that China had previously requested Russia to provide RD-93 engines for its FC-17 aircraft as an interim solution, and both the NDA and UPA administrations during Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh had raised concerns about potential transfers to Pakistan.

However, another expert, speaking anonymously, recalled having faint memories of discussions on this topic. "Moscow assured New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial without technology transfer (ToT), while India received licensing for the significantly superior RD-33 engines with ToT." Compared to the base RD-33, the RD-93 produced by the Klimov plant offers greater thrust but reduced operational lifespan. The RD-93 has a service life of 2,200 hours whereas the RD-33 lasts for 4,000 hours.

Under a trilateral agreement between Russia, China, and Pakistan, Russia has been providing fully assembled RD-93 engines since the early 2000s. Pakistan is currently seeking a modified version that has not yet been developed.

No official confirmation regarding the sale has been provided.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded explanations from the government on Saturday regarding why India's "once most reliable strategic ally," Russia, is providing military support to Pakistan by supplying engines for Chinese-manufactured JF-17 fighter jets.

The BJP responded on Sunday by describing reports about Russia proceeding with the supply of JF-17 jet engines to Pakistan as "reckless information warfare" and criticized the Congress for raising this issue on social media, accusing the party of taking the "side of the enemy" rather than supporting India.