The launch advances Pakistan’s long-term effort to modernize its undersea fleet through close defense cooperation with Beijing.

The Hangor-class program is Pakistan’s largest naval procurement initiative and a central pillar of its maritime modernization strategy.

It combines Chinese construction with technology transfer to Pakistan’s domestic shipbuilding industry.

Fourth Launch In China

The launch ceremony for PNS Ghazi took place at the Shuangliu Base of the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group in Wuhan and was attended by senior Pakistani and Chinese naval officials. 

With this event, all four Hangor-class submarines being constructed in China have now been launched and are moving through sea trials ahead of delivery.

The submarines are designed for advanced undersea warfare, featuring modern sensors and weapons intended to engage targets at standoff ranges. 

Their entry into service is expected to significantly enhance the Pakistan Navy’s submarine force.

Hangor-Class Program Structure

Pakistan signed the Hangor-class contract with China in 2015–2016 for a total of eight diesel-electric attack submarines, based on China’s Type 039A/B Yuan-class design and equipped with air-independent propulsion to extend submerged endurance. 

Of the eight boats, four are being built in China by Wuchang Shipbuilding under China Shipbuilding Offshore International, while four are to be constructed in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works under a technology-transfer arrangement.

The China-built submarines were launched on a rolling timeline: the first in April 2024, the second on March 15, 2025, the third on August 15, 2025, and the fourth—PNS Ghazi—on December 17, 2025. 

The initial boats are expected to be commissioned into the Pakistan Navy starting in 2026.

Legacy And Naming

The name Ghazi carries historical weight in the Pakistan Navy. 

The original PNS Ghazi, a U.S.-built Tench-class submarine, served in the 1960s and was lost during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. 

The Hangor-class itself commemorates PNS Hangor, a French-built Daphné-class submarine that sank an Indian frigate during the same conflict.

By reviving these names, the navy has sought to link the new generation of submarines with past operational milestones while signaling continuity in its undersea warfare tradition.

Strategic Context

The Hangor-class submarines represent a substantial qualitative upgrade for Pakistan’s fleet, extending endurance, stealth, and strike options in the Arabian Sea and broader Indian Ocean. 

Officials have framed the program as contributing to maritime security and deterrence, while also reflecting the depth of Pakistan–China defense ties.

With all China-built boats now launched and domestic construction ongoing in Karachi, the program has entered its final production and testing phase, setting the stage for a significant expansion of Pakistan’s submarine capabilities later this decade.