Russia has dismissed reports that it was said to provide engines for JF-17 fighter aircraft being supplied by China to Pakistan. He has described such reports as mischievous and baseless. Russia has dismissed the reports, saying that there is no confirmation that it is providing RD-93MA engine to Pakistan for integration in JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets, or not, as stated in a report on Saturday.
Political debate in India on reports
There has been a sharp reaction in India to these reports. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday questioned the government as to why India’s “ever most reliable strategic partner” is allegedly supplying military equipment to Pakistan. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the allegations and described them as part of the “careless information war” campaign. It accused the Congress of exaggerating untimely reports and instead of standing with national interests, “to favor the enemy”. BJP leaders also stated that India’s defense relations with Russia remain strong and under Moscow long-term agreements, India has been providing advanced equipment such as S-400 air defense system and nuclear submarine cooperation.
‘Someone is trying to create a rift between India and Russia’: Sutra
These reports have come before the high-level meetings set between New Delhi and Moscow, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India later this year.
Sources said that efforts have been made to create tension between Moscow and New Delhi before the upcoming bilateral meetings. However, a clear message from Moscow has been given, “No compromise with Pakistan will not worry India.”
Putin will come to India in December
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in December this year. Speaking at the full session of Valdai last week, Putin said that he is eagerly waiting for his visit to India in early December and “my friend and our reliable colleague Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi”.
Asked about the RT News Channel report, when asked about the US threat to impose high fees and ban on the major partners of Russia, Putin said that Indian people would not tolerate their country to take decisions contrary to their national interests and priorities.
Russian expert says that criticism is not appropriate
Describing the criticism of the Government of India as “unfair”, Etchakanov said that the development should be seen in the context of long -standing defense relations between Moscow and New Delhi. He also said that China had previously requested RD-93 engine supply from Russia as a temporary measure for its FC-17 jet aircraft, and the possibility of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh’s governments discussed the possibility of transferring these engines to Pakistan during the governments.
Another Russian expert, who refused to reveal his identity, said that he remembers the discussions and stressed that Moscow assured New Delhi at that time that the RD-93 deal was a complete commercial agreement, with not technology transfer (TOT). He said, “Moscow assured New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was of commercial nature. On the contrary, India got a better RD-33 engine license under a full technology transfer agreement.”
The RD-93 engine manufactured by the Climov plant is a type of RD-33 used in MiG-29 aircraft in India. Although the RD-93 offers more thrust, its service period is short-about 2,200 hours, while RD-33’s 4,000 hours.
Since the early 2000s, Russia has been supplying a fully assembled RD-93 engine to Pakistan through a tripartite agreement with China, which originally demanded them for the FC-1 (JF-17) project. The latest reports show that Pakistan is now demanding a revised version of the engine, which has not been developed yet. There has been no official statement from Moscow regarding the new sale.