Hi,
The reason russia sells RD93 is that it is not a game changer---the playing field stays the same---russia gets foreign exchange---china and pakistan are both happy---russia has made inroads in pakistan by selling something that is important to pakistan---but of no great significance to russia and its ally---the u s sells F16 blk52 to pakistan is not a game changer---they sell the aim 120---it is a game changer in a way that it balances the power structure---and takes a bit of a desperation factor away from pakistan.
Now if russia would sell what's that the ALF31---is that the engine on chinese su30---andJ10---to pakistan now---then it is sort of a power shift----but not from 5 years from now----. If it happens now----then you can say that russia is unhappy with india---.
The first part is correct, but then why do you overlook the same reason for the AL 31? When Russia might sell AL 31 to PAF for J10s, IAF might already have S117 engines or possibly upgraded AL 31 versions, while they offer us even to co-develop the AL 41 engine for Pak Fa FGFA. All these engines are more advanced than the old AL 31, just like the RD 33MK engine, that we get for Mig 29K is more advanced than RD 93 for JF 17.
For Russia it is as you said in the first part, a way to make money by selling China and mainly Pakistan older techs and aircrafts, while India is the only country that has complete access to all their latest techs. The fact that Russia sees India as a long term partner is obvious by the change of relation in the last years. They know India is not dependent anymore on their weapons, theirfor they need to offer more, that's why they offer us now not only customised Russian fighters like the MKI, but co-developments like Pak Fa / FGFA, MRTA, engines, helicopters...
India is the only country in the world which they can trust to such an extend, that they are willing to share their most capable techs and weapons, not even China has this advantage. Once because China has proven to not be reliable to them, but also because China is a threat to them since they share land and sea borders. Russia might not be abler to sell as many weapons and techs to India like in the past, but with the new policies they can sell more weapons and techs to other foreign countries WITH India as a partner. This is already visible by the fact how many countries shows intererst in Brahmos, wants to have a similar version of the Su 30 like India has, that Malaysia or Bangladesh wants to maintain their Russian fighters in India, because we now offer secure spare and logistical supply...
The benefit of India teaming up with Russia, instead just buying Russian stuff is way more important for their long term perspective and selling some older techs and weapons to China or Pakistan, like other countries does it as well, won't change anything in this relationship.
Wrt France, they smartly used the chance to bind 3 of the 5 BRICS countries to their side. India and Brazil were long term buyers of French weapons and techs, but the changes of Russian policies and how the west sees them, was a chance to get them closer to France as well. It isn't that long ago that Europe feard 1000s of Russian tanks and fighters would attack them, but today things are changing and after the French, it seems the Italians are the next to sell them arms.
..from then on ..the idea of Mutually assured destruction kept it from being used. the same may apply to us... for years the US built bombers upon bombers to counter what it presumed was a massive soviet bomber threat.. not knowing that soviets had been secretly moving on to missiles as their primary delivery system.. what makes you think its any different here?
