Is India’s close ally supplying RD-93 engines to Bankrupt Pakistan? Russian Defense experts makes big claim, says, ‘Integration into JF-17 will…,India to..’
Is India's close ally, Russia, supplying RD-93 engines to Bankrupt Pakistan? Russian Defense experts has issued big statement. Read details here.
Speculation that Russia might provide RD-93MA engines for Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jets has sparked political controversy in India(BHARAT), with the opposition party attacking the Modi government. But Russian defense experts have dismissed the views. On Sunday, defense experts expressed that the opposition party’s criticism of the Modi government is not justifiable.
Who are the Russian defense experts making claims about the RD-93 engines?
“I don’t think the criticism here is justified. If reports about Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are correct, it actually benefits India(BHARAT) in two ways,” Pyotr Topychkanov, who heads the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the prestigious Moscow-based Primakov Institute, told news agency PTI.
Furthermore, he added, “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(BHARAT), especially since they share the same engine and India(BHARAT) observed the JF-17’s operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor).”
When could these engines be integrated into Pakistan’s fighter jets?
Topychkanov noted that China had asked Russia to provide RD-93 engines for its FC-17 jet as a stopgap, and the idea of it being transferred to Pakistan was raised by the NDA and UPA governments under prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh.
However, another expert, who did not wish to be identified, said he vaguely remembers discussions on the issue. “Moscow convinced New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial without transfer of technology (ToT), while India(BHARAT) was given license for much superior RD-33 engines under ToT.”
According to the news agency PTI report, RD-93, produced by the Klimov plant, in comparison to its base RD-33’s, has more thrust but decreased service life. RD-93 has a service life of 2,200 hours. Meanwhile, RD-33’s is 4,000 hours.
Since the early 2000s, Russia has been providing fully assembled RD-93 engines as part of a trilateral agreement with China and Pakistan. Pakistan is now aiming for a modified version, which is not yet developed. There was no official word about the sale.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- RD-93, produced by the Klimov plant, in comparison to its base RD-33’s, has more thrust but decreased service life.
- RD-93 has a service life of 2,200 hours.
- Meanwhile, RD-33’s is 4,000 hours.
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded answers from the government on why India(BHARAT)’s “once most reliable strategic ally”.
What is the alleged deal between Russia and Pakistan regarding RD-93 engines?
Earlier on Saturday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded answers from the government on why India(BHARAT)’s “once most reliable strategic ally”, Russia, is providing military support to Pakistan by supplying engines of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets. The BJP on Sunday termed reports about Russia proceeding with the supply of JF-17 jet engines to Pakistan a “reckless information warfare” and slammed the Congress for raising the issue on social media, accusing it of choosing the “side of the enemy” instead of India(BHARAT).
What's Your Reaction?
