CAC-PAC FC-1 / JF-17

[Penguin]

JF-17 Thunder: Govt to Buy Jet Engines Directly from Russia
(Source: The Express Tribune; published Feb 15, 2015)

ISLAMABAD --- Pakistan will directly import engines from Russia to manufacture its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. The engines were earlier imported via China.

According to sources in ministry of defence production, China has recently issued no objection certificate (NOC) to Pakistan, which was earlier producing the fighter jet as a joint venture with China.

“The Chinese NOC now allows Pakistan to import fighter jet engines from Russia directly,” a source said. “This will not only reduce the cost of production of the fighter jet but will also lead to enhanced defence cooperation between Russia and Pakistan.”

Islamabad and Moscow had recently agreed to boost cooperation in several spheres including that of defence during the recent Russian defence minister’s visit to Pakistan. “This is a significant move since Pakistan had never struck any direct defence deal with Russia,” the sources said.

“Russia was clearly tilted towards India and the new Russian policy towards Pakistan is seen as a coup pulled by the country’s foreign policy.


(EDITOR’S NOTE: This report confirms the unsatisfactory performance of Chinese-made aero engines, which are reverse-engineered from Russian-supplied engines and whose under-performance has notably delayed several Chinese aviation development programs, including the Y-20 four-engined transport aircraft and several fighter designs, including the J-20 and J-31.
In recent years, China has not made a secret of these shortcomings, and for example conceded that a Russian-made RD-93 engine will power the Chinese J-31 fighter, at least initially.)

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