Putin signs permission to re-export RD-93 to Pak

Moscow, Aug 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the permission for the re-export of Russian engines RD-93 to Pakistan, Business daily Kommersant reported.

Russian RD-93 engines are installed in Chinese fighter jets JF-17 (also known as FC-1). Pakistan had signed a contract with China for 150 JF-17 fighter jets. China plans to buy about 1,000 RD-93 engines, worth 6-7 billion dollars from Russia, the paper said.

It added that India objected the re-exporting of RD-93 engines from China to Pakistan on the basis of the original Russian contract which banned any re-export of the engines.

However,according to paper, the Russian President's staff said that the deal with China does not harm Delhi's interests. ''India buys not just next-generation jets from Russia, but 'four-plus' generation jets,'' it quoted.

UNI