There has been a buzz in defence circles that Pakistan could secure advanced Russian jet engines for its JF-17 Thunder fleet. These rumours caused consternation in India because Moscow is a key defence partner of New Delhi, providing much of its military hardware for decades. Supplying fighter jet engines to Pakistan, therefore, could signal a potential warmth in ties. However, sources have debunked claims that Russia would be providing jet engines. But this brings up a question—why does a fighter jet co-developed by China and Pakistan still depend on Russian engines?
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To understand this, we must dissect the unique fighter jet that the JF-17 Thunder is.
The JF-17 Thunder, also called the FC-1 Xiaolong in China, is manufactured in Pakistan with a collaboration between Pakistan's Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC).
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