Pakistan Navy launches second Hangor-class submarine in China

The Pakistan Navy has launched its second Hangor-class submarine, PNS/M Shushuk, at a ceremony in Wuhan, China, as part of efforts to strengthen its maritime defence capabilities, an official statement said on Saturday.

The submarine is part of an eight-vessel deal signed in 2015 between Pakistan’s defence ministry and China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Islamabad.

Under the agreement, four submarines are being built in China, while the remaining four will be constructed at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works under a transfer of technology programme.

Pakistan’s Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, attended the launch event as the chief guest.

“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,” the Pakistan Navy’s Directorate General of Public Relations said in a statement.

“He emphasised 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 added.

Designed with stealth capabilities and low acoustic signatures, these submarines aim to enhance Pakistan’s naval deterrence in the Indian Ocean region by making detection more difficult. Officials say they will also enable precision strikes at standoff ranges.

The Hangor-class project is part of Pakistan’s broader effort to modernise its naval forces. In 2018, Pakistan signed an agreement with Türkiye to acquire four MILGEM-class corvettes, while a Turkish company was also engaged to upgrade the country’s Agosta 90B-class submarines.

The latest developments further reinforce Pakistan-China military ties through strategic defence collaboration.