Russian defense experts have revealed that the reported sale of RD-93 engines to Pakistan for its JF-17 fighter jets could actually give India a strategic advantage, dismissing domestic criticism in India as misguided. The deal, which has sparked heated political debate, is being viewed by analysts as a development that benefits New Delhi in multiple ways.
Pyotr Topychkanov, head of the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at Moscow’s prestigious Primakov Institute, told PTI, “The criticism in India is misplaced. If Russia is indeed supplying RD-93 engines for Pakistan’s JF-17 jets, this is good news for India.” He outlined two key reasons why this deal works in India’s favor. “First, it highlights that China and Pakistan have failed to develop an indigenous engine to replace Russia’s RD-93. Second, India is already familiar with these aircraft, especially after observing their operational use during the May 2025 crisis, known as Operation Sindoor.”
The RD-93 engines, manufactured by Russia’s Klimov plant, are a variant of the RD-33 engines used in India’s MiG-29 fighters. While the RD-93 offers higher thrust, it has a significantly shorter service life of 2,200 hours compared to the RD-33’s 4,000 hours. This disparity, experts argue, gives India a technological edge, as its RD-33 engines were acquired under a full transfer of technology (ToT) agreement, unlike the purely commercial deal with Pakistan, which includes no such technology transfer.
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Topychkanov also noted that discussions about Russia supplying RD-93 engines to China for its FC-17 jets (the Chinese designation for the JF-17) date back to the early 2000s. At the time, both the NDA government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised concerns about the potential transfer of these engines to Pakistan.
However, Moscow reassured New Delhi that the deal was strictly commercial and posed no strategic threat to India. Another Russian expert, speaking anonymously, confirmed that these discussions took place, adding that India’s access to the superior RD-33 engines under a ToT agreement further tilts the balance in its favor.
Under a long-standing trilateral agreement between Russia, China, and Pakistan, Russia has been supplying fully assembled RD-93 engines since the early 2000s. Pakistan is now reportedly seeking a modified version of the engine, which is still under development. This reliance on Russian technology underscores the limitations of Pakistan and China’s domestic defense industries, giving India a clear upper hand.
The issue has ignited a political firestorm in India. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recently questioned why Russia, once India’s “most reliable strategic ally,” is now providing military support to Pakistan. In response, the BJP accused Congress of engaging in “reckless information warfare” by amplifying the issue on social media and aligning with narratives that undermine India’s interests. The BJP emphasized that the deal does not alter the strategic balance, given India’s superior technology and familiarity with the JF-17’s capabilities.
As tensions simmer, Russian experts remain confident that the RD-93 deal poses no threat to India. Instead, they argue, it exposes the technological dependencies of India’s adversaries while reinforcing New Delhi’s position as a regional military powerhouse.
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