The JF-17 Thunder light fighter, the result of Sino-Pakistani industrial and technological cooperation, is intended to become the backbone of the Pakistani air forces, which already have more than 100 examples in service. The aircraft has demonstrated high performance, whether during international exercises or during engagements such as the one against the Su30-MKI, Mirage 2000-5 and Mig21 Bison of the Air Force. Indian on February 27, 2019.
While the standard Block III, equipped with a new AESA radar, modernized avionics, and a helmet sight, is due to enter service with the Pakistani forces, China has offered to equip them with a new engine WS-10, which must also equip the PLA's J-10s, to replace the Klimov RD93s used until now. China has in fact made significant efforts to develop its own high-performance engines, the last point of dependence of its aeronautical industry. However, it seems that Chinese engineers still have progress to make in this area, since the Pakistani authorities refused their partner's offer, judging the new Chinese engine “unreliable”, and “less efficient” than the Klimov RD93.
This decision by Islamabad says a lot about the problems facing Chinese turboprops. Indeed, Moscow announced this spring to limit exports of defense equipment to Pakistan. with strict counter-terrorism equipment, in order to give New Delhi exclusivity regarding Russian equipment. Knowing that the Pakistani authorities had announced shortly before this declaration their intention to order 350 Russian T90M battle tanks, we cannot attribute any form of Russian preference to them.
The RD93 is a turboprop equipped with a post-combustion nozzle developing a thrust of 5 tonnes dry and 9 tonnes with post-combustion, derived from the RD-33 engine which equips, in particular, the Mig29 family of aircraft. It is renowned for its reliability, its lifespan, and its resistance, even when mistreated by pilots. It allows the JF-17 to reach the speed of Mach 1.6 by giving it a thrust-to-weight ratio of 0,95 in air-to-air combat configuration. The JF17 Block III was touted as capable of reaching Mach 2, but it was also to be fitted with China's new WS10 engine, given to push to 13 tonnes with afterburner.