WUHAN, CHINA — In a move underscoring the deepening strategic defense partnership between Islamabad and Beijing, the Pakistan Navy launched its fourth Hangor-class submarine, the Ghazi, at the Shuangliu Base in Wuhan on Wednesday.
The launch marks a pivotal achievement in Pakistan’s naval modernization program. According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Ghazi is the final of the four units currently being constructed in China. All four vessels are now undergoing rigorous sea trials and are nearing formal induction into the Pakistan Navy.
A Strategic Defense Partnership
The acquisition is part of a 2015 bilateral agreement between Pakistan and China for a total of eight Hangor-class submarines. The contract is structured as a dual-production initiative:
- Four Submarines: Constructed in China.
- Four Submarines: To be built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) in Pakistan under a comprehensive Transfer of Technology (ToT) framework.
This arrangement is designed to bolster Pakistan’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities while ensuring long-term technical self-reliance.
Technical Capabilities and Regional Impact
The Hangor-class represents a significant technological leap for Pakistan’s maritime defense. These diesel-electric attack submarines are equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, allowing for extended underwater endurance and reduced acoustic signatures.
| Feature | Specification / Impact |
| Technology | Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) |
| Armament | Advanced sensors and standoff-range weaponry |
| Strategic Goal | Regional peace, stability, and credible deterrence |
The military’s media wing emphasized that these platforms will be equipped to engage targets at significant distances, serving as a “pivotal” factor in maintaining the balance of power in the Indian Ocean Region.
Historical Context and Cooperation
The class is named in honor of the original PNS Hangor, which gained historical significance during the 1971 war as the first submarine to sink an enemy warship since World War II.
The launch ceremony in Wuhan was attended by high-ranking officials from both nations, which the ISPR noted was a testament to the “deepening bilateral cooperation” and the “all-weather” nature of the China-Pakistan friendship. This follows a rapid production timeline, with the first submarine launched in April 2024, followed by two more in March and August of 2025.
AIP Technology and the Evolving Naval Balance in the Indian Ocean
The induction of the Hangor-class submarines, particularly the recently launched Ghazi, represents more than just a fleet expansion for the Pakistan Navy. It marks a qualitative shift in the underwater warfare landscape of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
1. The AIP “Stealth” Advantage
The defining feature of the Hangor-class is Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP). Standard diesel-electric submarines must “snorkel” (surface or stay just below the surface) every few days to run their engines and recharge batteries, making them highly vulnerable to radar and aerial surveillance.
- Extended Endurance: AIP allows these submarines to remain submerged for two to three weeks at a time.
- Acoustic Discretion: By operating without the noisy combustion of diesel engines while submerged, AIP vessels are significantly harder to detect by passive sonar.
- Strategic Impact: For a medium-sized navy like Pakistan’s, this technology acts as a force multiplier, allowing for persistent presence in “chokepoints” like the Strait of Hormuz or the North Arabian Sea.
2. Shifting the Balance of Power
The regional naval dynamic is currently characterized by a race for subsurface dominance between Pakistan and India:
| Feature | Pakistan Navy (Hangor-Class) | Indian Navy (Current Status) |
| AIP Capability | Operational: Currently expanding to a fleet of 11 AIP-equipped boats by 2028. | Developing: Currently lacks operational AIP in its conventional fleet; Project-75I (German collaboration) is several years away. |
| Doctrinal Focus | Sea Denial: Using stealth to deter larger surface fleets and protect SLOCs. | Sea Control/Triad: Focusing on Carrier Battle Groups and Nuclear SSBNs (Arihant-class) for a second-strike capability. |
| Weaponry | Integrated with Babur-3 cruise missiles, providing a credible sea-based deterrent. | Equipped with BrahMos and K-series missiles; possesses a superior number of nuclear-powered vessels. |
3. Asymmetric Warfare and “Sea Denial”
Pakistan’s strategy is primarily one of Sea Denial—using a smaller, technologically advanced force to prevent a larger adversary from controlling the sea.
- Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD): The Hangor-class, armed with standoff weapons like the YJ-82 and potentially the nuclear-capable Babur-3, creates a “no-go zone” for hostile surface vessels.
- Countering Carrier Groups: The extreme stealth of AIP submarines poses a direct threat to high-value targets like aircraft carriers, which are difficult to protect against “silent” subsurface threats even with advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) suites.
4. Regional Stability Concerns
While the ISPR states these submarines will maintain “peace and stability,” defense analysts suggest the rapid introduction of these platforms may trigger a fresh undersea arms race. India is already accelerating its own AIP programs and enhancing its ASW capabilities (such as the P-8I Poseidon aircraft) in response to the “technological gap” created by Pakistan’s new Chinese-built fleet.
Khalid Minhas | Editor, Diplomatic Wire
A veteran journalist with three decades of comprehensive experience, Khalid Minhas has covered politics and international relations in depth throughout his career. He has also contributed to academia, teaching journalism and mass communication as a visiting faculty member at various universities in Pakistan. He holds an M.Phil in Mass Communication and is currently a Ph.D research scholar pursuing advanced studies in the field. He is also the author of the book America, Israel aur Islam, providing insightful analysis on the subject.
