ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy expects to commission its first Chinese-designed Hangor-class submarine next year, Admiral Naveed Ashraf told China’s Global Times. The delivery marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s $5 billion defense partnership with China and strengthens its maritime presence in the North Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Under the deal, eight submarines will be delivered by 2028. The first four are being built in China, while the remaining four will be assembled in Pakistan to boost local shipbuilding expertise. So far, three submarines have already been launched into China’s Yangtze River from a shipyard in Hubei province.
Chinese Technology Enhances Naval Capabilities
Admiral Ashraf praised China’s defense technology, describing it as reliable and well-suited to Pakistan’s operational requirements. He said the Navy is focusing on new technologies such as artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and advanced electronic warfare tools, in collaboration with China.
The submarine deal follows Pakistan Air Force’s use of Chinese J-10 fighter jets in May to shoot down Indian Air Force aircraft, including French-made Rafales — an event that stirred global debate on Chinese versus Western military technology.
Strategic and Economic Ties Deepen Through CPEC
Beijing remains Islamabad’s largest arms supplier, accounting for over 60% of Pakistan’s weapons imports from 2020 to 2024, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
China has also invested heavily in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a 3,000-kilometre trade route connecting Xinjiang to Gwadar Port. The corridor, part of the Belt and Road Initiative, allows China to secure vital energy supplies from the Middle East while bypassing the vulnerable Straits of Malacca.
Ashraf emphasized that the partnership extends beyond defense hardware. “It reflects mutual trust and a shared strategic vision,” he said. “In the coming decade, cooperation will expand into research, technology sharing, and industrial collaboration.”
