IRIA News

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The Pakistan Navy has launched its third Hangor-class submarine in China, marking another major step in the ongoing program to enhance the country’s undersea warfare capabilities. The ceremony, held on August 15, 2025, in Wuhan, China, was attended by senior Pakistani and Chinese officials, marking the growing defense cooperation between the two countries.

The event took place at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Ltd’s Shuangliu Base. The submarine, to be commissioned as PNS/M Mangro, was formally launched in the presence of Vice Admiral Abdul Samad, Pakistan’s Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Project-2, who served as the chief guest.

In his remarks, Vice Admiral Samad highlighted the importance of maritime security amid the region’s shifting geopolitical dynamics. “The Pakistan Navy remains fully committed to defending national interests while fostering a secure and cooperative maritime environment,” he said.

Pakistan’s Vice Admiral Samad added that the Hangor-class submarines, equipped with advanced sensors and weaponry, would be central to sustaining regional power equilibrium and ensuring maritime stability.

Commending the work of Chinese shipbuilders, he expressed satisfaction with the progress of the submarine project and said that the initiative would “bring a fresh dimension to the enduring, time-honored partnership between Pakistan and China.”

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Ltd and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company Ltd (CSOC), as well as senior Pakistani naval officials.

Launching ceremony of PNS/M MANGRO (Desig) held at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry, Shuangliu Base, Wuhan, China. DCNS Project-2, V/Adm Abdul Samad graced occasion as CG. In his address, CG stressed significance of maritime security amid region’s current geo-strategic dynamics. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/W7o8a0BTQl

— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) August 15, 2025

Contract for eight submarines

The government of Pakistan signed a deal with CSOC in 2015 to acquire eight Hangor-class submarines. Under the agreement, four submarines are being constructed in China, while the remaining four are to be built in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Ltd (KS&EW) under a transfer-of-technology arrangement.

This approach is designed not only to bolster the fleet but also to develop local shipbuilding capacity. The submarine launched in Wuhan is the third in the series, following the first, launched in April 2024, and the second, launched in March 2025.

According to the original schedule, all eight submarines were to be delivered between 2022 and 2028. The first four were initially expected to arrive by 2023, with the remainder delivered by 2028. However, the program has faced delays, with its first launch not scheduled to take place until 2024. Despite the revised timelines, officials on both sides have reiterated their commitment to completing the project.

Design and specifications

The Hangor-class is widely understood to be based on China’s Type 039B Yuan-class design. While Pakistan has not released technical details about the submarines’ propulsion systems or weapons, open-source reports suggest similarities with the Chinese S26 design. The S26 uses a Stirling air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, though officials in Pakistan have not confirmed whether the Hangor-class incorporates this technology.

Defense analysts estimate that the submarines is about 76 meters long with a displacement of around 2,800 tons, making them slightly shorter but heavier than the original S26 model. Their exact weapon systems remain undisclosed, but some experts believe that if the submarines are equipped with Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs), Pakistan would gain a significant deep-strike capability, strengthening its deterrence posture.

Currently, the Pakistan Navy operates three Agosta 90B AIP submarines and two Agosta 70 diesel-electric submarines. The Agosta 90Bs are undergoing mid-life upgrades under a contract signed with Turkish defense contractor STM in 2016. The modernization involves new fire control systems, sonar suites, electronic warfare equipment, radars, and periscope systems. The first upgraded submarine, PNS Hamza, was delivered in 2020.

Once completed, the eight Hangor-class submarines are expected to significantly expand Pakistan’s submarine fleet, providing greater operational flexibility and enhancing anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the Arabian Sea and beyond.

Chinese perspective on the project

Chinese experts have highlighted the technological sophistication of the Hangor-class. Zhang Junshe, a military affairs analyst, told Chinese media that the submarines feature “comprehensive sensor systems, excellent stealth characteristics, high mobility, long endurance, and formidable firepower.” He added that submarine cooperation between China and Pakistan reflects “a high level of strategic mutual trust and deep friendship.”

Submarines are a strategically important weapons category, and the Hangor program demonstrates that China is willing to share advanced technologies with Pakistan to safeguard mutual maritime interests, Zhang added.

China’s Ministry of National Defense echoed these sentiments earlier in August, with spokesperson Jiang Bin stating that defense cooperation with Pakistan is “not targeted at any third party” but aimed at maintaining international and regional security. He emphasized that China is willing to share its defense technology achievements with friendly countries, including Pakistan.

Strategic importance for Pakistan

For Pakistan, the Hangor-class program represents more than a procurement deal. It is a central element of its long-term maritime strategy, aimed at countering evolving threats and maintaining credible deterrence. With increasing competition in the Indian Ocean, where India is expanding its naval presence and acquiring advanced submarines and aircraft carriers, Pakistan views the modernization of its fleet as essential for preserving balance.

Vice Admiral Samad underscored this view during the launch, saying the new submarines would help sustain regional power equilibrium. Analysts note that Pakistan’s ability to field a larger, more modern submarine fleet could complicate the calculations of potential adversaries by strengthening its second-strike capability and improving its capacity to operate in contested waters.

Beyond defense considerations, the project also has industrial and diplomatic dimensions. The transfer-of-technology component is expected to bolster Pakistan’s domestic shipbuilding industry, while the broader program reflects deepening strategic ties with China. Both countries frequently highlight their defense cooperation as a symbol of an “all-weather partnership.”

With three Hangor-class submarines now launched, Pakistan is moving steadily toward completing one of its most ambitious naval modernization projects. The remaining five vessels, including four to be built domestically, are expected to enter service by the end of this decade.

The addition of the Hangor fleet is expected to provide Pakistan with enhanced undersea endurance, greater strike capabilities, and improved surveillance potential. When combined with the ongoing modernization of the Agosta-class submarines, the Pakistan Navy will have one of the most modern non-nuclear submarine forces in the region.

As geopolitical rivalries in the Indian Ocean intensify, Pakistan’s undersea modernization reflects its determination to remain a capable maritime power while relying on China as its principal partner in defense technology and strategic cooperation.