Overview
- Pakistan’s first Hangor-class submarine was commissioned Thursday in Sanya, where President Asif Ali Zardari and naval chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf led the ceremony.
- The eight-boat program pairs four submarines built in China with four to be constructed at Karachi Shipyard under a transfer-of-technology plan.
- The AIP-equipped class stays submerged longer and carries advanced sensors and modern weapons, though Pakistan has not publicly confirmed the exact loadout.
- Officials say the submarines will help deter aggression and guard sea lines of communication in the Arabian Sea, routes that carry most of Pakistan’s trade and energy.
- Program timelines point to Chinese-built boats entering service through 2028, with Pakistan-built units launching around 2030 and delivering by 2032 after earlier delays.