Over Half Of Pakistan Air Force's Chinese JF-17 Fighters Grounded Due To Lack Of Spares For Its Russian Engine: Report

The lack of engine spare parts has grounded half of Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) fleet of Chinese JF-17 fighters, Hindustan Times has reported.

The fighter, developed by China and powered by a Russian RD-93 engine, forms the backbone of the PAF's fighter fleet, with at least 137 aircraft in service and dozens more in production. The first JF-17s were formally inducted into the Pakistan Air Force in 2010.

According to the Hindustan Times report, the JF-17 fighter "has now become a liability" for the PAF. The report adds that a large number of Russian engines "installed in the JF-17 aircraft have developed cracks in guide vanes, exhaust nozzles and flame stabilisers".

Under the agreement it signed with Beijing for the aircraft, Islamabad was to source engines and spares from Russia only through China. But as engine-related issues have started affecting the JF-17 programme adversely, Pakistan has reached out to Russia directly for the supply of engines, spares and support for their upkeep.

While Russian engine company Kilmov has expressed willingness to provide RD-93 engines, spares and maintenance, US sanctions against Russian defence export agency Rosoboronexport have prevented the actualisation of the understanding.

Islamabad has sought to exploit the new geopolitical reality in which Russia and China are growing increasingly closer, allowing it to build closer ties with Moscow. It must be recalled that Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Moscow the day Russian forces formally launched the invasion of Ukraine.