Underwater Showdown: Comparing Pakistan's Hangor Class and India's Kalvari Class Submarines

Defense News ,India :- In the deep sea, there's a quiet competition between two types of attack submarines: the Hangor class from Pakistan and the Kalvari class from India. These submarines are advanced, but they have differences that make them unique.

Size and Weight:

Hangor: Bigger, weighing around 2,800 tons. It's spacious inside, which can make it more comfortable for the crew.

Kalvari: Smaller, at 1,775 tons. It's more nimble in shallow waters but might not have as much space inside.

Propulsion:

Hangor: Uses Chinese diesel-electric engines and an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, which lets it stay underwater longer. We don't know much about the AIP system.

Kalvari: Relies on regular diesel-electric engines, so it can't stay underwater as long as the Hangor. But it's working on adding an indigenous Fuel Cell AIP to improve this.

Armament:

Hangor: Has six 533mm torpedo tubes and can launch missiles like Babur 3 and anti-ship missiles. We don't know much about its exact capabilities.

Kalvari: Equipped with six 533mm torpedo tubes and can launch a wider range of weapons, including heavyweight torpedoes, anti-ship missiles like Exocet, and even DRDO developed Land-attack cruise missiles like ITCM and BrahMos-NG. Its payload capacity is well-defined.

Sensor Suite:

Hangor: We don't have a lot of details, but it likely has modern sonar and electronic warfare systems.

Kalvari: Equipped with advanced French technology called S-Cube, including top-notch sonar and electronic warfare systems. S-Cube is also equipped on the Four Brazilian Navy’s Scorpène and also on the Peruvian Navy’s Type 209/1200 submarines.

Key Differences:

Endurance: Hangor might have an edge because of its AIP system, but we don't know much about it.

Weaponry: Kalvari has a wider variety of weapons, giving it more flexibility.

Sensor Suite: Both are probably modern, but Kalvari's French technology is proven to work well.

Choosing a Winner:

It's hard to pick a clear winner because we don't have enough information about the Hangor class. While Hangor might have some advantages, Kalvari's proven abilities and diverse weaponry make it a strong contender. Ultimately, it depends on how each submarine is used and how well its crew is trained.

Looking Beyond:

These submarines are just part of a bigger picture. Factors like training, support systems, and overall naval strategy are also important. Understanding all these factors helps us see the true potential of these submarines.