And now in the Indian Ocean…
The Pakistan Navy yesterday welcomed “home” the first specimen of the 249-foot/2,800-ton S26 class submarine, PNS Hangor, an export derivative of the Chinese Type 039A SSK, which is currently operated by the PLAN.
Built at CSOC in China, it is a very modern boat with a double-hulled design and powered by AIP, which means she can remain submerged virtually every minute of an entire 40-50 day patrol if needed. It is roughly equivalent to a German Type 209 and superior to a Kilo-class SSK.
The Chinese are rapidly building the first four of the class at CSOC, with the future Shushuk, Mangro, and Ghazi already launched and fitting out for delivery next year. Then, with technology sharing, the next four will be built by KSEW in Karachi, with the future Tasnim and Seem Maai already laid down.
The eight new boats will replace the trio of French Agosta 90B-class submarines (Khalid, Saad, and Hamza) that are now in their 20s, and a pair of much older Agosta 70s (Hashmat and Hurmat), the latter two originally built for South Africa but not delivered due to sanctions on the Apartheid government, so the Pakistani Navy well knows how to run modern SSKs.
The Agostas replaced a trio of Daphnés, one of which sank an Indian frigate in 1971. Before that, the Pakistanis operated a leased Guppy Tench-class boat, ex-USS Diablo, as PNS Ghanzi, which was lost during the 1971 war, so they know the game well.
By comparison, the Indian Navy has 16 boats, three small 6,000-ton domestically built (with Russian help) Arihant-class SSNs, six brand new French Scorpènes, six cranky Kilo (P.877) class boats, and four German Type 209/1500s.