In April 2015, Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) approved the purchase of eight air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped submarines (SSP) from China. Under the contract, Pakistan would manufacture four of the boats at Karachi Shipyards and Engineering Works (KSEW), while the rest will be produced by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
Christened as the Hangor program (in honour of the original Hangor-class diesel electric submarine in service from 1967 to 2006), the first four boats were to be delivered by 2023, with the last four (from KSEW) due by 2028. However, the Pakistan Navy (PN) has not yet received the first of these boats, confirming a clear delay in the program, likely due to a combination of supplier-side issues and fiscal challenges with China and Pakistan, respectively.
Nevertheless, the Hangor program is progressing and based on current projections, will factor into the PN’s fleet by the late 2020s and early 2030s. Upon completion, the program will expand the PN’s sub-surface fleet to 11 AIP-equipped boats, joining the PN’s three upgraded Khalid-class (i.e., Agosta 90B) submarines. The PN is also seeking an unspecified number of shallow-water attack submarines (SWATS), potentially giving Pakistan one of the largest sub-surface fleets in Asia.
Hangor Submarine Design and Capabilities
The Hangor submarine is a variant of the China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd (CSOC) S26, a design based on the Yuan-class submarine, but developed for the export market. However, in comparison to the standard-grade S26, the Hangor carried several design changes, notably a heavier displacement (2,800 tons to the S26’s 2,550 tons) and slightly shorter hull (76 m to the S26’s 77.7 m). Otherwise, the Hangor was largely the same as the S26, especially in terms of its payload capacity of six torpedo tubes and Stirling-based AIP system.
Initially, the S26-series was apparently marketed with the German MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engine, but the German government withheld export licenses for the powerplant. Consequently, the PN had to pivot and procure the Chinese CHD-620 diesel engine in place of the MTU systems, hence causing a delay in the program. However, it is unclear if the entirety of the delays were due to the engine swap or, as plausibly, if Pakistan’s ongoing fiscal difficulties are also contributing to the friction.
Quwa Plus
Go Beyond the Headlines on Pakistan’s Defence and Security.
Quwa Plus gives you deeper reporting, briefings, and analysis on Pakistan’s defence programs, foreign policy, national security, and regional strategy. Follow the developments that matter to professionals, analysts, and serious readers tracking Pakistan’s security landscape.
Join ($29.99/Year) Already a subscriber?Sign in
