Russia Reportedly Rejects India's Demand Not to Supply RD-93MA Engines to Pakistan

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

In a stark reminder of shifting global alliances and the increasingly fragile balance of power in South Asia, Russia has reportedly rejected India's repeated requests to halt the export of RD-93MA turbofan engines to Pakistan.

The advanced engine, manufactured by Russia's United Engine Corporation (UEC)-Klimov, forms the backbone of the propulsion power of the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) most advanced fighter variant, the JF-17 Thunder Block III, which is being developed jointly with China.

India's diplomatic moves, which intensified in 2025 after Indo-Pakistani tensions escalated in May, are aimed at preventing Moscow from further bolstering Islamabad's air force modernization.

However, despite New Delhi's strategic objections and its historical role as one of the largest customers of Russian defense products, Moscow appears to have ignored India's concerns and continued with the delivery of the engines, which analysts say will significantly enhance Pakistan's air defense capabilities.

This development not only highlights the fragility of the Indo-Russian defense relationship, which has been considered strong, but also reflects a major shift in the global arms trade, where Russia's new alliance with China and Pakistan clashes with India's efforts to move closer to the West.

The decision also underscores Russia's willingness to use defense exports as a geopolitical instrument, with the RD-93MA delivery aimed at strengthening the trilateral alliance with Beijing and Islamabad at a time when its access to Western markets remains blocked.

For Pakistan, the integration of the RD-93MA engine into the JF-17 Block III is seen as being able to bridge the technological gap with India's frontline fighter aircraft, especially when coupled with the PL-15 long-range missile which can threaten India's high-value assets deep in the disputed airspace.

Analysts have warned that the operation of the RD-93MA-powered JF-17 could complicate India's air defence architecture along the Line of Control (LoC), forcing the Indian Air Force (IAF) to deploy more Rafales and Su-30MKIs for defensive patrols amid increasingly strained resources.

Strategically, Russia's refusal to bow to India's demands also signals that Moscow no longer sees New Delhi as an exclusive partner, but rather as one of several competing customers in an arms market increasingly dominated by China and Middle Eastern buyers.

Ultimately, this episode highlights how the JF-17 program — once looked down upon by Indian analysts — has now transformed into a key pillar of Pakistan's deterrence posture, its credibility even bolstered by the support of Russian engines at a time of rising regional tensions.