China Hands Over Third Hangor-Class Submarine to Pakistan, Boosting Naval Power in Indian Ocean

China has delivered the third of eight advanced Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, marking another major step in strengthening Islamabad’s naval fleet as part of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to expand influence in the Indian Ocean, a region often seen as India’s strategic backyard.

The handover ceremony took place in Wuhan, Hubei province, where Pakistan’s Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects-2), Vice Admiral Abdul Samad, highlighted that the new submarine, equipped with cutting-edge weaponry and modern sensors, will help maintain “regional power equilibrium” and enhance “maritime stability.”

This comes just months after the second Hangor-class submarine was delivered in March. The eight-boat program, agreed in 2015, represents one of the largest defense deals between China and Pakistan, under which four submarines will be built in China and four at Pakistan’s Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW).

Specifications of Hangor-Class Submarines

The Hangor-class is based on the Chinese Type 039A/041 Yuan-class design, customized for Pakistan. Key features include:

• Length: About 76 meters

• Displacement: Around 2,800 tons (submerged)

• Propulsion: Diesel-electric with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, allowing it to stay submerged for over two weeks without surfacing

• Stealth: Advanced hull design with low acoustic signature for quiet operation

• Weapons: Capable of carrying torpedoes, anti-ship cruise missiles, and possibly land-attack cruise missiles (Babur-III SLCM), giving it a potential nuclear-strike capability

• Sensors: Equipped with comprehensive sonar suites and modern combat management systems for enhanced detection and targeting

• Range & Endurance: Estimated endurance of 8,000 nautical miles and the ability to operate at sea for up to 90 days

With these features, the Hangor-class submarines are considered among the most advanced conventional submarines in the region, rivalling the capabilities of India’s Kalvari-class (Scorpène) submarines.

China–Pakistan Defense Ties Deepen

The submarine deal is part of Beijing’s wider strategy to bolster Pakistan’s military power. In recent years, China has supplied:

• Four advanced Type 054A/P frigates for the Pakistan Navy

• Over 600 VT-4 main battle tanks for its army

• 36 J-10CE fighter jets, delivered since 2022

• Pakistan’s first dedicated spy ship, the Rizwan

According to global defense data, more than 80 percent of Pakistan’s imported military hardware now comes from China, cementing Beijing as Islamabad’s primary defense partner.

Strategic Implications in the Indian Ocean

The induction of Hangor-class submarines significantly boosts Pakistan’s undersea warfare capabilities at a time when China is also expanding its naval footprint in the Arabian Sea, where it operates from the Gwadar Port in Balochistan. The addition of long-endurance, missile-capable submarines to Pakistan’s fleet could complicate India’s naval strategy, especially in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where the Indian Navy maintains superiority.

Chinese analysts have claimed the Hangor-class provides Pakistan with “excellent stealth, long underwater endurance, and formidable strike power,” making it a deterrent platform against India’s surface and submarine forces.

With three submarines already delivered and five more on the way, Pakistan’s navy is expected to undergo its largest transformation in decades. By the early 2030s, Islamabad aims to operate one of the most modern conventional submarine fleets in Asia, while China continues to secure its influence in South Asia through defense, trade, and infrastructure partnerships.