'India will benefit in two ways', says Russian expert on reports of JF-17 fighter jet engines being supplied to Pakistan

News Topical, Digital Desk : Russian defence experts said on Sunday that India would benefit if Russia supplies RD-93 engines to Pakistan for use in its JF-17 fighter jets, dismissing opposition criticism of the Indian government on the issue.

"I don't think the criticism here is justified. If the reports of Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are true, it will actually benefit India in two ways," said Pyotr Topychkanov, head of the section on new challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the Moscow-based Primakov Institute.

Russian defense expert explains the benefits

First, it shows that China and Pakistan have not yet succeeded in replacing the Russian engine. Second, the new aircraft will be familiar and predictable for India. Especially since both share the same engine and India saw the JF-17 operational during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor).

Topichkanov recalled that China had requested Russia to supply RD-93 engines for its FC-17 jets as a temporary measure. However, given the possibility of their transfer to Pakistan, the issue was raised with Russia by the then governments of Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Russia had given confidence to India 

However, another expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had only a vague recollection of discussions on the issue. Moscow had assured New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial, without any technology transfer, while India had been granted a license for the far superior RD-33 engine under technology transfer.

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