IRIA News

4 minute read

The Pakistan Navy has achieved a significant step towards enhancing its naval capabilities with the launch of its second Hangor-class submarine, named PNS Shushuk, at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Ltd, Shuangliu Base, Wuhan, China.

The Hangor-class submarine project is part of a 2015 agreement between Pakistan and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company Ltd (CSOC), aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s naval power.

The agreement, signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, involves the acquisition of eight submarines, with four being built in China and the remaining four in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd (KS&EW) under a transfer of technology program.

The launch ceremony, held on March 13 in Wuhan, was attended by Pakistan’s Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, who emphasized the importance of maritime security and the strategic role of these submarines in maintaining regional stability.

Vice Admiral Bilgrami highlighted the strategic importance of the Hangor-class submarines and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring maritime security.

“Hangor Class submarines, equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, will play a pivotal role in maintaining the balance of power and maritime order in the region,” Vice Admiral Bilgrami stated.

He further commended CSOC for its efforts and expressed confidence that the project would strengthen the long-standing Pakistan-China defense partnership.

Originally, Pakistan planned to receive all eight submarines between 2022 and 2028. The first four were scheduled for delivery in 2022-2023, while the remaining four were expected by 2028. However, the program has experienced delays, as the first submarine was only launched in 2024, pushing back the expected completion timeline.

Hangor-Class Submarines

The Hangor-class submarines are based on China’s Type 039B Yuan-class submarines and are considered an export variant tailored to Pakistan’s needs. While the Pakistan Navy has not disclosed specific details regarding the submarines’ subsystems and weapon configurations, it is widely speculated that they are based on the CSOC’s S26 design, which features the Stirling Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. However, Pakistani officials have not publicly confirmed the propulsion system.

Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) allows submarines to operate underwater for extended periods—up to three weeks—without surfacing, significantly enhancing stealth and endurance. This technology enables submarines to remain undetected for longer durations, making them more effective in covert operations. AIP is crucial for modern naval warfare, providing a strategic advantage in maintaining continuous submerged operations in hostile environments.

The Hangor-class submarines are 76 meters long and displace 2,800 tons, making them slightly shorter but heavier than the original S26 design. These submarines are expected to be equipped with advanced sensors and long-range strike capabilities, which will allow the Pakistan Navy to enhance its anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy in the region.

Deep sea strike capabilities

While official confirmation is lacking, there is speculation that the Hangor-class submarines could be armed with Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs), which would provide Pakistan with a deep-strike capability. This would be a significant enhancement to Pakistan’s naval deterrence, potentially allowing it to conduct strategic strikes from underwater platforms.

Pakistan’s submarine fleet

At present, the Pakistan Navy operates five submarines—three Agosta 90B AIP submarines, and two Agosta 70 diesel-electric submarines.

The Agosta 90B submarines are currently undergoing a mid-life upgrade as part of a 2016 contract with Turkish defense company STM. The modernization includes new fire control systems, sonar suites, electronic warfare systems, radar, and periscope systems. The first two— PNS HAMZA (S-139) and PNS KHALID (S-137)—have been delivered to Pakistan, whereas the third one PNS Saad (S-138) is undergoing modernization.

With the addition of eight new Hangor-class submarines, the Pakistan Navy will more than double its submarine fleet, significantly enhancing its regional naval capabilities.

Strategic implications

The launch of the PNS Shushuk marks another step forward in Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its naval forces. Once fully operational, these submarines will play a critical role in maritime security, strategic deterrence, and maintaining regional stability. Given the growing naval competition in the Indian Ocean, Pakistan’s enhanced undersea warfare capabilities will have significant strategic implications.

As the Hangor-class submarine project progresses, Pakistan is poised to strengthen its maritime defenses while deepening its military cooperation with China. The next key milestone in this project will be the construction and launch of the remaining six submarines, including the four being developed at Karachi Shipyard in Pakistan.

This partnership improves Pakistan’s naval capabilities and strengthens its defense industry through the transfer of advanced submarine technology. The joint program highlights growing Pakistan-China defense ties, combining technology sharing with local production to boost self-reliance and support economic growth.