Pakistan began the construction of its first contingent of the Chinese designed offshore attack AIP-Powered Submarine , named Hangor, at Karachi Shipyard on Thursday to bolster the country’s clandestine undersea warfare capabilities. The steel cutting ceremony for buying design and technology-based submarines was attended by Director General Naval Design Bureau of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) Mr Liu Shengfu, who is in-charge of exports of submarines from China, and other Pakistani officials.
The ceremony marking the start of construction was presided over by Director General Pakistan Navy (DG-P Navy) Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, who said: “The project is an example of exemplary cooperation between China and Pakistan in the field of science and technology.”
Pakistan’s defense relationship with China has been on the rise in recent years as the Pakistani Navy has acquired several new submarines based on a variant of the Chinese S-20 design. And now it looks like Pakistan’s efforts to procure more submarines from the Chinese will soon bear fruit.
The building of the AIP-Powered Submarine is part of a $3 billion deal under which eight diesel-electric powered submarines will be produced by 2028 in Wuhan.
China Shipbuilding Industry Company’s (CSIC) Wuchang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. will design and construct the AIP-powered submarines for the Pakistan Navy in its facility in Wuhan, Hubei province, according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency. Karachi Shipyard is also participating in the construction.
The 77.6 metre long submarine is designed for general deep-sea operations and it has a submerged displacement of 3,600 tonnes, higher than the Type 39G Song class and Project 636-kilo class.
Conclusion
In an era of pending supremacy in the Indian Ocean, it is vital that Pakistan has a strong navy to protect its maritime interests. Both China and Pakistan share economic interests in the region, prompting the joint construction of this submarine.
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