Pakistan Begins Construction Of AIP-POWERED SUBMARINE With Chinese Help
Karachi Shipyard and Wuchang Shipbuilding, a Wuhan-based subsidiary of the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Company (CSIC), have collaborated for delivering eight air-independent propulsion (AIP) powered submarines to the Pakistan Navy, with the first four already under construction in Wuhan.
The construction of the Yuan-class submarine is part of a $3 billion deal under which eight diesel-electric attack boats will be delivered to the Pakistan Navy by 2028.
Now, Pakistan has begun the construction of its first Yuan -class guided-missile attack submarine at Karachi Shipyard on Thursday. This will be the fifth submarine of the series. and three more will be constructed in situ. The steel cutting ceremony of the submarine coincided with the 50th anniversary of the sinking of Indian Navy warship INS KHUKRI by a French origin submarine in the 1971 war.
These 8x submarine ( HANGOR Class in Pakistan Navy ) will be 77.6-metre long with a submerged displacement of 3,600 tonnes, higher than the Type 39G Song class and Project 636-kilo class. The Pakistani Hangor-Class subs will also be armed with six torpedoes and nuclear capable Babur-III cruise missiles.
Pakistan has also signed a deal with Turkey to modernise its existing four submarines while its shipyard is indigenously developing midget submarines for overt and covert operations. With these subs, subsurface attacks from Pakistani waters will increase greatly.
Last month, Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh also admitted that the Navy closely monitors the ongoing cooperation between China and Pakistan. A lot of hardware is being exported to Pakistan from China, like ships and submarines which will affect a lot the security dynamics here. Indian Navy has to be prepared for this.
China has also delivered PNS TUGHRIL, the first of four Type 054 Frigates constructed for the Pakistan Navy at Hudong Zhonghua (HZ) Shipyard, China. Pakistan ambassador to China Moin ul Haque said that the frigates will strengthen Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to respond to maritime challenges to ensure seaward defence, maintain peace, stability, and balance of power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The PLA Navy also deploys submarines occasionally in the IOR to patrol China’s energy shipping vessels. Presently, the Indian Navy dominates the IOR. Still, it has been facing competition from China’s People Liberation Army-Navy as India claims that 7-8 Chinese warships are present in the IOR at any given time.
So now, India must fast track its construction of AIP fitted conventional submarine. The country must ensure that by 2030, the Navy has in addition to the 6x Scorpion Class subs at least another 12 x brand new ones with a total of 18.
Then by 2030, hopefully the first two of the six indigenous nuclear powered SSGN s are also available. By 2040 the Navy must have 18 such SSGNs and 36 x AIP fitted diesel electric submarine. In addition will be the mini submarines for Special Forces operations. It is assumed that the 12x SSBNs will all be available for the second strike capability.
Apart from the submarines, the strength of the LRMR Squadron will have to be increased to minimum 4x Squadrons with 48 x Boeing P8Is. Thought will have to be given to having two squadrons of Medium Range Maritime Recce Squadron based on C295 transport aircraft which will soon go into production in India itself.
