The Pakistan Navy is set to commission its first Chinese-designed Hangor-class submarine next year, marking a major milestone in Islamabad’s expanding defence partnership with Beijing and a strategic move aimed at balancing India’s growing influence in the region.
In an interview with China’s Global Times, Pakistan’s Naval Chief, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, said the submarine programme—part of an eight-vessel agreement with China—was “progressing smoothly” and would significantly strengthen Pakistan’s surveillance and deterrence capabilities across the North Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
The deal, estimated at $5 billion, stipulates that the first four diesel-electric attack submarines will be constructed in China, while the remaining four will be assembled in Pakistan to enhance domestic shipbuilding capacity and technological expertise. So far, three submarines have been launched from a shipyard in China’s Hubei province into the Yangtze River.
“Chinese-origin platforms and equipment have proven reliable, technologically advanced, and well-suited to Pakistan Navy’s operational requirements,” Ashraf said, adding that the Navy is also investing in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and electronic warfare technologies, with China as a key collaborator.
The submarine project is part of the broader China-Pakistan strategic partnership, which spans military, economic, and infrastructural cooperation. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Pakistan accounted for over 60% of China’s total arms exports between 2020 and 2024.
Beyond defence, the alliance is anchored in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — a 3,000-kilometre infrastructure network linking China’s Xinjiang region to Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. As a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), CPEC provides Beijing with a critical trade and energy route that bypasses the vulnerable Straits of Malacca.
The latest update on Pakistan’s submarine development comes amid renewed tensions with India, following reports that Pakistan’s air force deployed Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets in May to down an Indian Rafale aircraft built in France.
The incident reignited discussions over the performance of Western versus Chinese military systems and underscored Beijing’s growing role in shaping South Asia’s defence landscape.
Security analysts say the Hangor-class submarines will not only enhance Pakistan’s maritime deterrence but also extend China’s strategic reach across the Indian Ocean reinforcing its presence from the Middle East to Central Asia.
