Pakistan’s Hangor-Class Program Accelerates Ahead of India’s P-75I
Pakistan’s naval modernisation is gaining remarkable momentum as its
Hangor-class AIP submarines achieve major milestones.
The first boat is undergoing sea trials, the third has already been launched,
and the sixth has seen its keel laid. This rapid progression underscores
Pakistan’s determination to cement its undersea deterrent with eight new
conventional attack submarines by the decade’s end.
Built under collaboration with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International
Co. (CSOC), the Hangor-class represents the export variant of China’s
Type-039B Yuan-class SSK, featuring Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) for
extended underwater endurance.
Four vessels are being built in China, with the remaining four assembled at
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW), reinforcing Pakistan’s
industrial capabilities and self-reliance in submarine construction.
Despite adopting a less advanced propulsion setup—based on the CHD620 diesel
and a Stirling-type AIP system—the Hangor-class offers Pakistan an edge in
persistence and mission flexibility across the Arabian Sea. Although the
Stirling AIP is inherently noisier and less efficient compared to modern
fuel-cell systems, it still provides multi-day submerged operation, reducing
snorkel cycle frequency.
Conversely, the Indian Navy’s Project-75I, which seeks to induct
next-generation AIP-enabled submarines with longer underwater endurance and
advanced sensor suites, remains stuck at contracting and design finalisation
stages. This delay, compounded by the phased upgrade of India’s existing
Kalvari-class (Scorpène) fleet, leaves a timing gap in AIP capability through
the late 2020s.
By 2030, Pakistan could operationally field up to 11 AIP-equipped
boats—including upgraded Agosta-90B submarines fitted with locally developed
MESMA-type AIP modules—compared to India’s none, until the P-75I series
materialises. This numerical and endurance advantage supports Pakistan’s
concept of sustained undersea denial and extends its tactical reach across
chokepoints in the North Arabian Sea.
While Indian Kilo- and Scorpène-class submarines maintain qualitative
superiority in stealth, sensors, and weapons integration, Pakistan’s
quantitative and AIP-based endurance advantage could complicate India’s
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) posture in the near term, until indigenous AIP
integration or next-gen P-75I boats enter service later in the decade.
Technical Comparison: Hangor-Class Vs Agosta-90B Vs Kalvari-Class Submarines
| Specification | Hangor-Class (Type-039B Export) | Agosta-90B (Upgraded) | Kalvari-Class (Project-75 Scorpène) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin/Builder | China (CSOC) / Pakistan (KSEW) | France (DCNS, now Naval Group) / Pakistan (KSEW) | France (Naval Group) / India (MDL) |
| Type/Generation | 4th Gen Conventional AIP Submarine | 3rd Gen AIP-Upgraded Submarine | 4th Gen Conventional Submarine (Non-AIP) |
| Displacement (Surfaced/Submerged) | ~2,300 / 2,800 tons | ~1,760 / 2,000 tons | ~1,615 / 1,775 tons |
| Length | ~76 m | ~67 m | ~67.5 m |
| Propulsion System | Diesel-electric with Stirling-based AIP (CHD620 diesel engines) | Diesel-electric with MESMA AIP (upgraded locally) | Diesel-electric (AIP retrofit planned by 2026–27) |
| Endurance (Submerged with AIP) | 15–20 days | 10–14 days | 8–10 days (post AIP integration) |
| Maximum Diving Depth | ~300 m | ~350 m | ~350 m |
| Speed (Submerged) | 18 knots | 20 knots | 20 knots |
| Crew Complement | ~38 | ~36 | ~35 |
| Sonar and Sensors | H/SQG-207 flank array + Chinese CMS | Upgraded Thales DUUX-5 + local CMS | SUBTICS sonar suite (integrated French-Indian system) |
| Torpedo Armament | 6 × 533 mm tubes (Yu-6 / CM708 torpedoes) | 4 × 533 mm tubes (ECAN F17 or DM2A4) | 6 × 533 mm tubes (Whitehead SUT / ECAN F21) |
| Missile Capability | CM-708UNB / Babur-3 (SLCM, test-fit) | Babur-3 SLCM (limited integration) | Exocet SM39 (Anti-ship missile) |
| AIP Technology | Stirling-cycle AIP (Chinese) | MESMA (Closed-cycle steam turbine) | Planned PEM Fuel Cell AIP (DRDO-NMRL) |
| Stealth Signature | Moderate (due to AIP mechanical noise) | High (older hull design, moderate silencing) | Very High (low acoustic signature, advanced silencing) |
| Build Numbers and Status (2025) | 8 planned (1 on trials, 3 launched, 6th keel laid) | 3 in service (all upgraded) | 6 in service (AIP upgrade planned) |
| Service Entry Timeline | 2026–2030 (progressive induction) | 1999–2008 (modernized by 2022) | 2017–2024 (AIP retrofit from 2026) |
| Strategic Role | Extended endurance patrols, second-strike SLCM platform | Coastal deterrence, SLCM platform | Blue-water ASW and sea control operations |
Pakistan’s Hangor-class fleet, combining quantity and AIP endurance, is
closing the regional undersea gap with China’s technological assistance.
Although limited by noisier propulsion and lower stealth compared to India’s
Kalvari-class, its operational persistence and SLCM capability provide
significant asymmetry.
India’s edge in acoustic discretion and sensor
integration remains, but until P-75I submarines become operational, Pakistan’s
cumulative AIP fleet (Agosta + Hangor) will dominate the endurance spectrum in
the northern Indian Ocean.
IDN (With Agency Inputs)
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