Bad news for Taliban as Pakistan plans 2026 launch for 1st Chinese submarine in Rs 416000000000, PM Shehbaz Sharif plans to…
The clash between the nuclear-armed neighbors surprised many in military circles and sparked debate over the superiority of Western-made equipment versus Chinese counterparts.
New Delhi: In a major development, the Pakistan Navy is expecting its first Chinese-designed submarine to enter active service next year. The information was shared by the country’s top admiral to Chinese state media, bolstering Beijing’s bid to counter regional rival India(BHARAT) and project power toward the Middle East. It is important to note that under the deal Islamabad will take delivery of eight Hangor-class submarines by 2028.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf told the Global Times in an interview published on Sunday, adding the submarines would boost Pakistan’s ability to patrol the North Arabian Sea and India(BHARAT)n Ocean. The update on the Chinese submarine deal follows Pakistan’s air force using Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets in May to shoot down an India(BHARAT)n Air Force Rafale aircraft, made by France.
The clash between the nuclear-armed neighbors surprised many in military circles and sparked debate over the superiority of Western-made equipment versus Chinese counterparts.
Under the terms of the submarine agreement — reportedly worth up to $5 billion — the first four diesel-electric attack submarines will be built in China, with the remaining vessels assembled in Pakistan to improve the South Asian nation’s technical capabilities.
Pakistan has already launched three of the submarines into China’s Yangtze River from a shipyard in the central province of Hubei.
“Chinese-origin platforms and equipment have been reliable, technologically advanced and well-suited to Pakistan Navy’s operational requirements,” Ashraf told the tabloid, which is published by the ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily.
“As modern warfare evolves, emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, AI and advanced electronic warfare systems are becoming increasingly important. The Pakistan Navy is focusing on these technologies and exploring collaboration with China,” Ashraf was also quoted as saying.
Islamabad has long been Beijing’s top arms customer, and over the 2020-2024 period bought over 60% of China’s weapons exports, data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows.
Along with billions in arms sales, Beijing has heavily invested in building out its connections to the Arabian Sea through a 3,000 km (1,864.11 mile) economic corridor stretching from China’s Xinjiang to Pakistan’s deep-water port of Gwadar.
(With Agency Inputs)
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