News
May 01, 2026
Pakistan Navy to Get a Fleet of Advanced Submarines from China
Islamabad: Pakistan's Navy will be getting a fleet of advanced Chinese submarines, a statement from the military and a government official said on Thursday, a move to strengthen Islamabad's maritime security as part of growing defense cooperation with Beijing.
The subs are in addition to Chinese-made J10-C fighter jets, which were war-tested for the first time during last year's Pakistan-India conflict.
Pakistan and China are longtime allies and their defense cooperation has been enhanced since the conflict erupted.
Islamabad says the Chinese-made planes were part of its air assault that downed India's French-made Rafale fighter jets last summer.
A ceremony to commission the first of the submarines, which will be called Hangor, was held in Sanya, China, with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and naval chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in attendance, the military statement said.
A Pakistani government official said the fleet would consist of eight submarines; four would be made in China and delivered to Islamabad, while another four will be made in Pakistan under a transfer-of-technology program.
"We will also be in a position to offer their exports under our defense production in future," he said.
Ashraf called it "an important milestone to bolster our maritime defense and modernize our fleet with cutting-edge technology." - Reuters
Courtesy Reuters
Back to Pakistanlink Home