Russian defense experts said on Sunday (October 5, 2025) that Delhi would really benefit from the alleged sale of RD-93 engine to Pakistan for use in JF-17. Experts rejected the criticism of the Government of India on this issue as unfair.
Pyotrakanov, the head of the section on new challenges in South and South-East Asia at the prestigious Praimkov Institute in Moscow, said to PTI-language, ‘I don’t think criticism is appropriate here. If the news of providing engines for JF-17 fighter jet from Russia is correct, then India will really benefit from two ways.
He said, ‘First of all, it shows that China and Pakistan have not yet managed to change the Russian engine. Secondly, the new aircraft will be familiar and estimated to India, especially because both share the same engine and India has seen the operational use of JF-17 during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor).
Topicanov reminded that China had requested Russia to supply the RD-93 engine as a temporary measure for its FC-17 jet and the issue of transfer of it to Pakistan was raised from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh at the time of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Russia with technology transfer to India Rd-33 engine license was given
However, another expert said on the condition of keeping his name secret that he remembers the conversation on this issue. He said, “Moscow assured New Delhi that the RD-93 deal is completely commercial without any technical transfer (TOT), while India has been licensed far better RD-33 engines under technical transfer (TOT).”
The RD-93 produced by the Climov plant, compared to its original RD-33, gives more thrust, but its service period is short. The service period of RD-93 is 2,200 hours, while RD-33 has 4,000 hours.
Under a tripartite agreement between Russia-China-Pakistan, Russia is supplying a fully assembled RD-93 engine since the early 2000s. Pakistan is now wanting a revised version, which has not yet developed. There has been no official statement about sale.
Congress targeted the Government of India regarding Russia
The Congress had said on Saturday (October 4, 2025), citing media news for the supply of engine for Pakistani fighter aircraft JF-17, that it is the failure of Modi government’s diplomacy and it should tell the country why Russia, a trusted partner of India, is giving military support to Pakistan.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh cited reports that Russia is supplying advanced RD-93 MA engine for JF-17 fighter aircraft.
BJP retaliated on Congress
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (October 5, 2025) called the reports of Russia on the supply of JF-17 jet engine to Pakistan, and criticized the Congress for raising the issue on social media. The BJP accused the Congress of taking the enemy’s side instead of India.
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