Pakistan has commissioned its first Chinese Hangor-class submarine, PNS Hangor, at Sanya on Hainan Island, a major Chinese naval hub. The submarine is a derivative of the Chinese Type-39A attack submarine and is the first of eight such vessels to be delivered by 2028. Four of these are being built in Karachi, while the remaining four have been constructed and launched by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd (CSOC), according to Naval News.
Deadly AIP Technology
The Hangor-class submarines are equipped with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, which allows conventional diesel-electric submarines to remain submerged for extended periods—up to two to three weeks—without surfacing to recharge batteries. This significantly reduces vulnerability to detection by aircraft and surface vessels. With this induction, Pakistan's operational AIP-equipped submarine fleet rises to four, set to grow to eleven by 2028. All three of Pakistan's existing Agosta-90B submarines already feature AIP systems supplied by Turkish firm STM, as reported by The Diplomat.
India's Submarine Fleet Status
In contrast, the Indian Navy operates 16 conventional diesel-electric submarines across three classes: Kalvari, Sindhughosh, and Shishumar. Only the six Kalvari-class submarines are slated to receive indigenously developed AIP systems in the coming years. Additionally, India plans to induct six Type-214 submarines equipped with AIP technology. However, India's 30-year, 24-submarine building plan, approved in 1999, is significantly behind schedule. The rate of induction barely matches decommissioning, straining the fleet's ability to maintain minimum force levels.
Expert Concerns
Captain DK Sharma, former spokesperson for the Indian Navy, stated, "This would certainly exert a lot of pressure on the existing fleet, more so when our adversary is augmenting their submarine fleet at a frantic pace. The need of the hour is to expedite the acquisition process and finalize future induction plans." Four Sindhughosh-class submarines—Sindhughosh, Sindhudhvaj, Sindhuvir, and Sindhurakshak—have already been retired. The Shishumar-class submarines have undergone mid-life upgrades and are expected to serve for another decade, as reported by Naval Technology, but this does little to close the gap.
Conclusion
Pakistan's rapid AIP submarine expansion underscores India's lagging undersea capabilities, threatening regional naval balance. Accelerating submarine acquisition and indigenous AIP development is critical for India to maintain deterrence.
