the above news is a progression of the news below...
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY:
Russian aero-engine looks set for export to Pakistan
Reuben F Johnson JDW Correspondent - Moscow
• Reports that Russia will allow the re-exporting of RD-93 jet engines by China to Pakistan have been confirmed
• The Russian decision to allow Pakistan to receive RD-93s may reflect a positive view of sales prospects for the JF-17 fighter
Russian industry sources have confirmed to Jane’s an earlier report stating that the Kremlin has given permission to China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAIC) to re-export to Pakistan the Russian-built Klimov RD-93 engine.
The engine is the powerplant for the JF-17 (FC-1) lightweight fighter aircraft being jointly developed by CAIC and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, but India, a traditional customer of Russia, has strongly opposed the export of the engine to its rival nuclear neighbour.
The Moscow business newspaper Kommersant had previously reported that 150 RD-93s would be supplied to China as part of a contract worth USD238 million.
The engine is a modified version of the MiG-29/-35 fighter’s Klimov RD-33 engine, but has been redesigned for a single-engine configuration with the accessory pack rotated in order to accommodate maintenance and servicing on the JF-17.
The Russian press reported that the decision to permit the re-export of the RD-93, and the signing of the actual contract, were all overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, sources in the Presidential Administration hastened to add that permitting China to supply these engines to Pakistan does not mean that this is the beginning of a long-term military industrial partnership with Islamabad. The contract is strictly a “one-off” deal, according to sources, and does not imply any future co-operation.
Lobbying for the approval of the contract apparently came more from the high-level interaction between the Chinese and Russian governments than from Russian industry.
Russian industry representatives state that this was an entirely political decision into which they had minimal input.
Rosoboronexport, the Russian state arms export monopoly, and the Russian Defence Ministry were reportedly involved in the deliberations.
The RD-93s to be shipped to CAIC will be supplied by the Chernyshev engine plant in Moscow. The contract will be administered by Rosoboronexport and initial deliveries will begin this year.
This may appear to bring an end to a contradictory and long-running saga, which has seen claim and counter-claim from Indian, Pakistani and Russian sources. In February, Russian industry sources told Jane’s the engine would not be permitted to be exported to Pakistan; less than a month later, Pakistan said approval had been granted.
A Pakistani government official responding to the RD-93 report said it has only confirmed what Pakistan had been saying all along: that the engine issue was on its way to being resolved. Over the last year, Pakistani officials have repeatedly said that they have been assured by Chinese officials that supplies of the RD-93 will not be halted. “We proceeded with the knowledge that this wasn’t as big a deal as was being talked about,” said a Pakistani government. “We are glad this licence issue has been formally resolved,” he added.
Western defence officials in Islamabad said the Russian decision may have been prompted by expectations of rising demand for the JF-17 fighter aircraft – so far delivered by China only to Pakistan. “The Russians probably see future demand for the JF-17 coming potentially from parts of Asia and Africa in the long run. Their decision must have been a commercial one, knowing that this project has a future,” said one Western defence official in Islamabad.