The Pakistan Navy expects its first Chinese-designed Hangor-class submarine to enter active service in 2026, bolstering Beijing’s bid to counter regional rival India.
A deal under which Islamabad will take delivery of eight Hangor-class submarines by 2028 is “progressing smoothly,” Pakistan’s top admiral told Chinese state media, adding the submarines would boost Pakistan’s ability to patrol the North Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Under the terms of the submarine agreement – reportedly worth up to $5 billion – the first four diesel-electric attack submarines will be built in China, with the remaining vessels assembled in Pakistan to improve the South Asian nation’s technical capabilities.
Pakistan has already launched three of the submarines into China’s Yangtze River from a shipyard in the central province of Hubei, Reuters said.
