NEW DELHI: Russian defense experts have minimized the implications of reports stating that Moscow is supplying RD-93 engines to Pakistan for its JF-17 fighter jets, as reported by news agency PTI. They argue that the development may actually benefit India.
Pyotr Topychkanov, head of the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the Primakov Institute in Moscow, said that opposition criticisms directed at the Indian government are unfounded. “If reports about Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are correct, it actually benefits India in two ways,” he noted. Topychkanov explained that Pakistan’s reliance on the Russian-made RD-93 engine underscores the inability of China and Pakistan to develop a domestic alternative.
“Firstly, it shows that China and Pakistan haven’t yet managed to replace the Russian-origin engine. Secondly, the new aircraft will be familiar and predictable to India, especially since they share the same engine and India observed the JF-17’s operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor),” he added.
Topychkanov highlighted a historical context, noting that China had previously sought Russian assistance for its FC-17 jets, and that the transfer of engines to Pakistan had been proposed during the tenures of former Indian Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.
Another unnamed Russian expert emphasized that Moscow has assured India that the RD-93 deal is strictly commercial, involving no technology transfer, while India received the more advanced RD-33 engines under license. The RD-93 engine, produced by Russia’s Klimov plant, offers greater thrust but has a shorter service life of 2,200 hours compared to the RD-33’s 4,000 hours.
Reports indicate that Pakistan is now seeking a modified version of the RD-93, though it remains under development. There has been no official confirmation from Moscow regarding these matters.
In light of these developments, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has called for answers regarding Russia’s military support to Pakistan. In contrast, the BJP has dismissed the reports as “reckless information warfare,” accusing the Congress party of aligning with the enemy.
