Daijiworld Media Network – Moscow

Moscow, Oct 6: Russian defence experts have dismissed opposition criticism of the Indian government over reports of RD-93 engine sales to Pakistan for the JF-17 fighter jet, saying the move could actually work in India’s favour.

“I don't think the criticism is justified. If reports about Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are correct, it benefits India in two ways,” Pyotr Topychkanov, head of the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the Moscow-based Primakov Institute, told PTI. He explained that the sale highlights China and Pakistan’s inability to replace the Russian-origin engine and makes the aircraft predictable to India, given its operational familiarity observed during the May 2025 Operation Sindoor.

Topychkanov noted that China had requested RD-93 engines for its FC-17 jet as a stop-gap, and previous Indian governments had flagged potential transfers to Pakistan. Another defence expert highlighted that India had been given licensed access to the more advanced RD-33 engines, while the RD-93 supplied to Pakistan offers higher thrust but shorter service life—2,200 hours compared to 4,000 hours for RD-33.

Under a trilateral Russia-China-Pakistan arrangement, fully assembled RD-93 engines have been supplied since the early 2000s. Pakistan now seeks a modified version, which is still in development. No official confirmation of the latest sale has been issued.

The issue sparked political reactions in India. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh sought explanations from the government, questioning Russia’s supply of engines for Pakistan’s Chinese-made JF-17 jets. The BJP termed the reports as “reckless information warfare” and accused the Congress of siding with the enemy instead of India.