Second Hangor class submarine has been launched by Pakistan Navy in China on Saturday, 15th March.
A ceremony occurred in Wuhan, China, where Hangor class submarine named PNS/M Shushuk was launched.
A deal was signed by Pakistan’s defense ministry and China ship building and Offshore International Company in 2015.
It was signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Islamabad.
As a part of deal, four submarines will be manufactured in China, while the remaining four being built at Karachi Shipyard through a technology transfer programme.
Pakistan’s Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, was invited as chief guest at the event.
According to the statement released by Pakistan Navy’s Directorate General of Public Relation, “While addressing the ceremony, the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff highlighted the importance of maritime security in the prevailing geo-strategic environment of the region, as well as Pakistan Navy’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and ensuring a safe and conducive maritime environment for all”
“He emphasized that 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,” it read.
Pakistan is boosting its naval capabilities with the Hangor-class submarine project.
The Hangor-class submarine is designed to increase precision strike abilities in the Indian Ocean region.
Moreover, these submarines will be hard to detect, thanks to their low acoustic signatures. Thus, it will be a valuable asset for Pakistan’s naval deterrence
The Hangor-class project is part of Pakistan’s broader naval modernization effort, which includes acquiring four MILGEM-class corvettes from Türkiye in 2018.
This move also strengthens Pakistan’s military ties with China through strategic defense collaboration
