Pakistan commissions first Chinese Hangor submarine
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- Pakistan commissioned the Hangor‑class submarine in Sanya on April 30, marking the first of eight Chinese‑built subs in a $5 billion deal.
- China will deliver four Hangor submarines by 2028 and transfer technology for four more to be built in Pakistan.
- India plans to buy six AIP submarines from Germany, a rival response to Beijing‑Pakistan naval cooperation.
- Pakistan’s naval fleet will expand from eight to twelve submarines, including the new 2,800‑ton Hangor with Air‑Independent Propulsion.
- China supplied about 80 % of Pakistan’s arms imports (2021‑2025) and accounts for roughly 60 % of its defense exports, underscoring the strategic depth of the partnership.
Why it matters: Pakistan gains a modern AIP submarine fleet for $5 billion, boosting deterrence in the Arabian Sea; China secures a strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean, while India’s naval gap narrows, prompting a regional arms race.
