You need to read more on this topic.
RD93 is not a baggage, with western engine's price of aircraft would exponentially increase. Supply of new engines and parts would become risky & expensive. Cost of maintenance would go up (servicing RD93 is cheaper than western engines despite requiring more frequent service). You are taking a well priced aircraft and increasing its price to F16, gripen and other soviet light - medium weight aircraft category price bracket. Currently it sits in a sweet spot suitable to dozens of countries who are fed up of being pushed around by the west.
Moreover, after introduction of FADEC - Full Authority Digital Engine Control System smoke is not a problem with RD series engines. It is one of the lightest, most powerful, reliable and easy to maintain engines with a modular designs in its category. It even supersedes in its performance some of the western engines. RD93 is overall a very capable engine by every means.
I am posting a graph below from a user of an Indian forum, I have found this guy to be pretty knowledgeable when it comes to aircrafts. This graph supposedly compares RD33 to GE F404. It shows RD33 produces more thrust at 11000 feet pushing 60KN of thrust at with afterburner whereas at 10500 feet F404 is pushing only slightly over 50KN at same altitude & speed. There were comments about how RD33/93 engine components have been treated to bear higher temperatures than F404. Based on this Low- Medium altitude performance of JF would be very good.
The whole philosophy behind JF is to get rid of western reliance. To gain freedom and not to be coerced by the west. We see countries like Australia blabbing & pushing anti China agendas just to please their western lords. Australia completely relies on US for defence. Australian defence would be at risk without US alliance. The day US and Australian interest would clash, you will know the true cost of relying too much on others!
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