Pakistan to Induct First Hangor-Class Submarine in 2026 — A US$5 Billion Naval Game-Changer in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Pakistan is on the cusp of a historic milestone in its naval modernisation as it prepares to induct its first Hangor-class submarine in 2026.

The induction marks the first delivery under a landmark US$5 billion (≈ RM24.5 billion) defence agreement with China that is poised to reshape South Asia’s maritime balance.

This strategic development underscores Islamabad’s determination to expand its underwater warfare capabilities in an era of intensifying regional rivalry.

Announced by Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, the Hangor-class project represents a defining leap in Pakistan’s undersea warfare doctrine.

The deal, encompassing eight advanced diesel-electric attack submarines, will allow Pakistan to extend its naval presence deep into the North Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

It marks a decisive doctrinal shift from a coastal defensive posture toward a true sea-denial and deterrence-oriented strategy.

Admiral Ashraf stated that the partnership with Beijing goes “beyond hardware; it reflects a shared strategic outlook, mutual trust, and a long-standing partnership.”

His words highlight not only a defence transaction but a geopolitical alignment — one that solidifies Pakistan and China’s enduring maritime collaboration.

Three submarines have already been launched in China, a clear signal that the project has transitioned from blueprints to tangible capability.

This program will establish Pakistan as one of the few regional navies equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP)-capable submarines, enhancing its stealth and endurance in contested waters.

The Hangor-class submarines, named after the legendary PNS Hangor that sank the Indian Navy’s INS Khukri in 1971, symbolize a fusion of historical legacy and modern innovation.

They also reaffirm the Pakistan Navy’s determination to maintain technological parity — or even superiority — against its regional adversary, India.

From PNS Hangor to a New Era of Undersea Warfare

Pakistan’s submarine history is deeply intertwined with its national security narrative and its pursuit of deterrence at sea.

The Pakistan Navy’s underwater arm was born in the 1960s when it acquired its first submarines from the United States and France.

The original PNS Hangor, a French-built Daphne-class submarine, earned an immortal place in Pakistan’s naval history when it sank the Indian frigate INS Khukri and damaged INS Kirpan during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.

It was the first successful submarine kill since World War II, marking a moment of tactical brilliance that continues to inspire the Navy’s submarine force today.

In the aftermath of 1971, Pakistan turned again to France, acquiring the Agosta-class submarines that would dominate its underwater fleet for decades.

Today, the Pakistan Navy operates five conventional attack submarines — two ageing Agosta-70s (Hashmat-class) and three Agosta-90Bs (Khalid-class) equipped with AIP systems.

The Agosta-90B’s AIP technology allows the boats to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing, providing Pakistan with a valuable stealth advantage in the shallow and acoustically challenging Arabian Sea.

However, as these platforms near obsolescence, the need for a modern replacement capable of countering evolving threats became urgent.

The 2015 deal with China’s shipbuilding industry was therefore not merely an acquisition but a technological transformation.

Valued at US$5 billion, the Hangor program is one of the most ambitious and expensive military-industrial collaborations in Pakistan’s history.

Under the agreement, four submarines are being built in China, while the remaining four are to be constructed domestically at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) under a transfer of technology arrangement.

This local assembly not only strengthens Pakistan’s industrial base but also deepens the nation’s self-reliance in naval production and maintenance.

Delays caused by engine availability issues and global supply chain disruptions pushed the delivery timeline from the original 2022–2023 schedule to 2026.

Despite these challenges, Admiral Ashraf has confirmed that Pakistan will induct its first Hangor-class submarine in 2026, with all eight entering service by 2028.

By the end of this decade, Pakistan will possess one of the most modern non-nuclear submarine fleets in the region, capable of deterring threats across its maritime domain.

Technical Edge: The Hangor-Class in Detail

The Hangor-class represents a quantum leap in submarine capability for Pakistan.

Based on the Chinese Type 039A/041 Yuan-class, the design combines advanced propulsion, stealth, and weapons technology to deliver high survivability in contested waters.

With a submerged displacement of around 2,800 tonnes, the Hangor is significantly larger and more capable than the Agosta-90B it will replace.

It measures approximately 76 metres in length with a beam of 8.4 metres and a draught of 6.2 metres, providing the internal volume needed for extended patrols and endurance missions.

Powered by a combination of diesel-electric engines and advanced Stirling-type air-independent propulsion, the submarine can operate submerged for up to three weeks without surfacing.

This capability gives Pakistan an enormous advantage in the Arabian Sea, where endurance and acoustic discretion are critical for survival.

The submarine’s conventional engines deliver speeds of 12 to 15 knots on the surface and more than 20 knots submerged.

It is armed with six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of firing heavyweight torpedoes such as the Chinese Yu-6 or Pakistani-developed equivalents.

The Hangor-class can also launch anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-82 and potentially the indigenous Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), which has a range exceeding 450–500 kilometres.

If integrated, the Babur-3 would provide Pakistan with a credible second-strike nuclear capability at sea — a crucial deterrent component in maintaining strategic stability with India.

The Hangor’s sonar and electronic warfare suites include bow-mounted active/passive arrays, flank arrays for lateral detection, and advanced optronic masts.

These systems enable superior target acquisition and situational awareness, even in the noisy acoustic environment of the Arabian Sea.

Electronic countermeasure systems onboard can deploy decoys and jammers to evade hostile detection and tracking.

Compared to India’s Kalvari-class submarines, based on the French Scorpène design, the Hangor-class offers similar stealth with potentially greater underwater endurance due to its more mature AIP technology.

In addition, the transfer of technology ensures that Pakistani engineers and technicians will master the maintenance and upgrade cycles of these submarines, paving the way for indigenous innovation.

Admiral Ashraf has described the new Chinese-built platforms as “technologically advanced and well-suited to Pakistan Navy’s operational requirements.”

This assessment reflects both operational confidence and strategic satisfaction with the Sino-Pakistani defence partnership.

Beyond the Hangor, future cooperation between Pakistan and China may include joint research into unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), artificial intelligence-assisted systems, and next-generation electronic warfare technologies.

Such developments will place Pakistan’s Navy at the cutting edge of regional undersea warfare in the coming decade.

Strategic Implications: Shifting the Balance in the Indian Ocean

The induction of the Hangor-class submarines carries profound strategic consequences for South Asia’s maritime security architecture.

The Arabian Sea — a vital artery for global energy trade and a focal point for great-power competition — will witness an intensified contest for undersea dominance.

For Pakistan, the Hangor-class enhances its ability to enforce a sea-denial strategy that can disrupt adversarial naval operations in the event of conflict.

The new submarines will provide the capability to protect Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), safeguard critical shipping routes, and deter potential blockades by hostile navies.

Admiral Ashraf noted that the Hangor fleet will “project power towards the Middle East,” allowing Pakistan to play a more active role in securing the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.

These sea lanes are lifelines for Pakistan’s energy imports and are of immense economic and strategic importance.

The induction of these submarines also extends Pakistan’s operational reach into the western Indian Ocean, where it can monitor strategic maritime chokepoints.

This extended surveillance capability is particularly relevant amid increasing instability in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

For India, Pakistan’s acquisition of the Hangor-class poses a formidable challenge.

New Delhi’s ongoing Project 75(I) — which aims to induct six new AIP-equipped submarines — has faced delays, leaving India reliant on an ageing mix of 16 conventional submarines.

The arrival of the Hangor-class could therefore tilt the operational balance underwater, forcing India to reassess its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) posture.

Indian naval planners will likely increase deployments of P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and invest in improved sonar networks and helicopter-based ASW assets to counter the threat.

The Hangor-class, with its stealth and strike capabilities, could undermine India’s carrier battle groups and challenge its maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean.

For China, the successful delivery of the Hangor fleet strengthens its strategic foothold in the Arabian Sea through Pakistan.

This aligns seamlessly with Beijing’s broader “String of Pearls” strategy — a network of maritime partnerships and bases extending from the South China Sea to the Horn of Africa.

Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), provides Beijing with access to the Indian Ocean and reinforces the logistical depth of both navies.

This deepening maritime axis between China and Pakistan has alarmed the United States and its Quad partners — India, Japan, and Australia — who view it as an extension of Chinese naval power projection.

Analysts warn that the Hangor’s induction could trigger a new phase in the undersea arms race between India and Pakistan.

The introduction of submarine-launched cruise missile capabilities on both sides introduces risks of miscalculation and inadvertent escalation during crises.

Nevertheless, Pakistan views the Hangor-class as a vital element of its maritime deterrence triad — a guarantee that its sea lines of communication will remain open even in wartime scenarios.

The capability to operate far from home waters represents a strategic maturity that transforms Pakistan from a coastal to a blue-water submarine force.

Challenges, Economic Realities, and Future Outlook

While the Hangor program is a source of pride, it also presents Pakistan with significant financial, technical, and operational challenges.

The US$5 billion price tag places heavy strain on Pakistan’s economy, which continues to grapple with inflation and debt pressures.

Sustaining a modern submarine fleet demands consistent funding for maintenance, crew training, spares, and infrastructure — areas that often suffer in times of economic stress.

Crew training for AIP-equipped submarines is particularly complex, requiring rigorous technical education and simulation-based readiness programs.

The Pakistan Navy must therefore invest heavily in human capital to operate these advanced systems safely and effectively.

Another challenge lies in maintaining the Chinese-origin equipment under a reliable long-term support framework.

Any geopolitical disruptions, such as sanctions or supply chain blockages, could affect the timely delivery of spare parts and maintenance components.

However, Pakistan’s decision to produce half of the submarines locally underlines its ambition to reduce dependency and build indigenous expertise.

This effort supports Pakistan’s long-term “Submarine Vision 2030,” which aims to field a total of eleven AIP-capable submarines, including modernised Agosta-90Bs.

Together with newly inducted Chinese Type 054A/P frigates and Turkish MILGEM corvettes, Pakistan’s Navy is moving toward a balanced and modern force structure by the end of this decade.

Admiral Ashraf has also hinted at future exploration into unmanned and AI-assisted underwater combat systems, signalling a readiness to adapt to the next era of naval warfare.

The Hangor-class project, therefore, is not merely a single procurement but a foundation for Pakistan’s broader maritime transformation.

It represents the culmination of a long-term vision to establish technological autonomy, strategic deterrence, and credible sea control.

A Silent Game-Changer Beneath the Waves

The 2026 induction of the first Hangor-class submarine marks the dawn of a new era in Pakistan’s maritime history.

It is a milestone that elevates Pakistan from a defensive coastal power to a regional naval force capable of projecting strength across the Indian Ocean.

The US$5 billion (≈ RM24.5 billion) investment will yield far more than a fleet of eight submarines — it will redefine regional maritime strategy.

For Pakistan, the Hangor-class is both a symbol and an instrument of sovereignty, deterrence, and self-reliance.

For India, it represents a new and potent undersea adversary capable of striking with precision and stealth.

For China, it reinforces the success of its naval export strategy and expands its strategic influence westward.

And for the broader Indo-Pacific, it adds yet another layer of complexity to an already volatile maritime environment.

The silent prowler beneath the Arabian Sea may never be seen, but its presence will be felt across the region’s strategic calculus.

It embodies Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard its waters, protect its trade arteries, and uphold its maritime sovereignty against all odds.

As the deep waters of the Indian Ocean grow more contested, the Hangor-class submarine stands as Pakistan’s quiet yet powerful statement — a symbol of deterrence, ambition, and enduring partnership beneath the waves. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA