Latest news with #Hangor-class
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
China hands over third Hangor-class submarine to Pakistan; over 80% of Islamabad's arms now from Beijing- Report
China has handed over the third of eight new Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, bolstering Islamabad's naval strength as Beijing expands its footprint in the Indian Ocean, a region India considers its strategic backyard. The submarine was launched on Thursday in Wuhan, Hubei province, state-run Global Times reported. The second vessel was delivered in March. Pakistan has also received four modern Chinese frigates in recent years, alongside Beijing's development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Abdul Samad said the Hangor-class submarines, equipped with advanced sensors and weaponry, would help maintain 'regional power equilibrium' and ensure maritime security, PTI reported. China supplied more than 81% of Pakistan's arms in the past five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Key purchases include the Rizwan spy ship, over 600 VT-4 battle tanks, and 36 J-10CE fighter jets, which Pakistan has already used in conflicts with India. Chinese experts describe the Hangor-class as a stealthy platform with long endurance, high mobility, and powerful underwater combat capabilities.
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Pakistan Navy boosts fleet with third Hangor-class submarine from China
The Pakistan Navy announced the launch of its third Hangor-class submarine in China, marking another step in its $5 billion submarine acquisition programme with Beijing. The submarine, named PNS/M Mangro (Desig), was launched on Thursday, August 14, at the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group's Shuangliu Base in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. The Pakistan Navy released a statement and video of the event on Friday. Vice Admiral Abdul Samad, Pakistan's deputy chief of naval staff (Projects-2), officiated the ceremony as chief guest. According to a report by Dawn, he said the Hangor-class submarines' advanced sensors and weaponry would 'be instrumental in sustaining regional power equilibrium and ensuring maritime stability". Why this matters to Pakistan The Hangor-class programme is central to Pakistan's naval modernisation. The deal, signed in 2015 with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC), envisages eight submarines: four to be built in China and the remaining four at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) under a Transfer of Technology arrangement. The first Hangor-class submarine was launched in April 2024, and the second in March this year. With PNS/M Mangro now launched, Pakistan has taken delivery of three vessels, with the remainder scheduled before 2028. The AIP-equipped Hangor boats give Pakistan longer underwater endurance in its bid to narrow traditional rival India's advantage in stealth and patrol persistence. However, India maintains a larger and more advanced surface and undersea fleet overall. All about Hangor-class submarines According to a report by The Indian Express, the Hangor-class is an export variant of China's Type 039A Yuan-class diesel-electric attack submarine. It is named after the original PNS Hangor, which famously sank India's INS Khukri in the 1971 war. The submarines are equipped with four diesel engines, an air independent propulsion (AIP) system that allows them to stay submerged for extended periods, and six 21-inch torpedo tubes. They can also launch anti-ship missiles and Pakistan's Babur-3 subsonic cruise missile with a reported range of 450 km. Each submarine displaces about 2,800 tonnes, measures 76 metres in length and 8.4 metres in width, making it larger than India's Kalavari-class Scorpene submarines. This gives the crew more space and greater endurance, though it reduces manoeuvrability in shallow waters. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told Global Times that the Hangor-class features strong underwater combat capabilities, 'including comprehensive sensor systems, excellent stealth characteristics, high mobility, long endurance and formidable firepower.' He added that the cooperation reflects 'a high level of strategic mutual trust and deep friendship' between China and Pakistan, contributing to regional security. How they compare to India The Hangor-class is seen as a counterpart to India's Kalavari-class, based on the French Scorpene design. India currently operates six Kalavari-class submarines, with three more on the way. While both use diesel-electric propulsion, the Pakistani boats gain an edge with built-in AIP, enabling longer underwater operations. However, analysts note that India's Kalavari-class may retain superior armaments, with German-made torpedoes and French Exocet anti-ship missiles. The Indian Navy is also working to retrofit an indigenous AIP system to its fleet. Beijing's role in Pakistan's military modernisation The submarine programme is part of a wider pattern of Chinese support to Pakistan's defence sector. In recent years, Pakistan has inducted Chinese-built JF-17 fighter aircraft, HQ-9/P long-range air defence systems, and most recently Z-10ME attack helicopters. According to statements from China's Ministry of National Defense, Beijing is 'willing to share its achievements in equipment development with friendly countries, including Pakistan". At an earlier briefing on August 8, China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin stressed that China–Pakistan defence cooperation was "not targeted at any third party". He said Beijing was willing to share its equipment development achievements with friendly countries like Pakistan.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Pakistan Gets 3rd Hangor-Class Submarine From China
China has delivered the third of the eight new "advanced" Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan as part of Beijing's efforts to upgrade Islamabad's naval strength to support its growing presence in the Indian Ocean, India's backyard. The launching ceremony of the third Hangor-class submarine was held in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on Thursday, the state-run Global Times reported on Saturday. The second of the eight submarines China is building for Pakistan was handed over in March this year. This is in addition to four modern naval frigates that China supplied to Pakistan in the last few years as part of its efforts to boost Pakistan's naval strength amid the Chinese navy's steady expansion in the Arabian Sea, where it is developing the Gwadar port in Balochistan, as well as in the Indian Ocean. Speaking at the launch of the third submarine, Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Project-2 Vice Admiral Abdul Samad said the Hangor-class submarine's cutting-edge weaponry and advanced sensors would be instrumental in sustaining regional power equilibrium and ensuring maritime stability, the daily quoted a Pakistan defence statement as saying. According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China supplied over 81 per cent of Pakistan's military hardware. Some of Pakistan's key orders in the past five years include the country's first spy ship, the Rizwan; more than 600 VT-4 battle tanks, and 36 J-10CE 4.5-generation fighters, according to the SIPRI database. China supplied the first delivery of multi-role J-10CE fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force in 2022, adding to its JF-17 fighters jointly manufactured by both countries. Pakistan used these fighter jets in the recent conflict with India. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Hangor-class submarine is characterised by its strong underwater combat capabilities, including comprehensive sensor systems, excellent stealth characteristics, high mobility, long endurance and formidable firepower. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
China hands over third Hangor-class submarine to Pakistan
China has delivered the third of the eight new 'advanced' Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan as part of Beijing's efforts to upgrade Islamabad's naval strength to support its growing presence in the Indian Ocean, India's backyard. The launching ceremony of the third Hangor-class submarine was held in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on Thursday, the state-run Global Times reported on Saturday (August 16, 2025). Also read: China launches first of the 8 Hangor-class submarine built for Pakistan in 2024 The second of the eight submarines China is building for Pakistan was handed over in March this year. This is in addition to four modern naval frigates that China supplied to Pakistan in the last few years as part of its efforts to boost Pakistan's naval strength amid the Chinese navy's steady expansion in the Arabian Sea, where it is developing the Gwadar port in Balochistan, as well as in the Indian Ocean. Speaking at the launch of the third submarine, Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Project-2 Vice Admiral Abdul Samad said the Hangor-class submarine's cutting-edge weaponry and advanced sensors would be instrumental in sustaining regional power equilibrium and ensuring maritime stability, the daily quoted a Pakistan defence statement as saying. Also read: India must remain proactive in countering combined naval threat from China, Pakistan: Parliamentary Panel According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China supplied over 81% of Pakistan's military hardware. Some of Pakistan's key orders in the past five years include the country's first spy ship, the Rizwan; more than 600 VT-4 battle tanks, and 36 J-10CE 4.5-generation fighters, according to the SIPRI database. China supplied the first delivery of multi-role J-10CE fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force in 2022, adding to its JF-17 fighters jointly manufactured by both countries. Pakistan used these fighter jets in the recent conflict with India. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Hangor-class submarine is characterised by its strong underwater combat capabilities, including comprehensive sensor systems, excellent stealth characteristics, high mobility, long endurance and formidable firepower.
India.com
11 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Big worry for India as Pakistan gets most advanced weapon from close friend China, weapon is…, is equipped with AIP technology...
Pakistan's close friend China has delivered the third of the eight new 'advanced' Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan as part of Beijing's efforts to upgrade Islamabad's naval strength to support its growing presence in the Indian Ocean, India's backyard. According to the state-run Global Times reports, the launching ceremony of the third Hangor-class submarine was conducted in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on Thursday. It is to be noted that the second of the eight submarines China is building for Pakistan was handed over in March this year. What advanced weapon did Pakistan receive from China? This is in addition to four modern naval frigates that China has supplied to Pakistan in recent years in order to enhance Pakistan's naval strength, at a time when the Chinese navy is growing its presence in the Arabian Sea with the development of the Gwadar port in Balochistan and in the Indian Ocean. During the launch of the third submarine, Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Project-2 Vice Admiral Abdul Samad stated that the Hangor-class submarine's cutting-edge weaponry and advanced sensors would be instrumental in sustaining regional power equilibrium and ensuring maritime stability, the daily quoted a Pakistan defence statement as saying. A recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicates China supplied over 81 per cent of Pakistan's military hardware. According to the SIPRI database, Pakistan's main orders in the past five years have been the Rizwan, the country's first spy ship; more than 600 VT-4 battle tanks; and 36 J-10CE 4.5-generation fighters. In 2022, China delivered the first multi-role J-10CE fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force, in addition to JF-17 fighters that both countries manufactured together. Pakistan reportedly used these fighter jets in a recent conflict against India. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Hangor-class submarine is characterised by its strong underwater combat capabilities, including comprehensive sensor systems, excellent stealth characteristics, high mobility, long endurance, and formidable firepower. Media reports indicate that these submarines are reportedly equipped have Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, but there have been no official announcements from the Pakistani side yet. In contrast to India, the Indian Navy does not have AIP submarines, although it has two nuclear-powered submarines. DRDO has developed an indigenous AIP system under phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), which is under consideration to be installed on the INS Kalvari-class submarines. This AIP system has been formally approved, and it will take time before it is installed and operational.
