Pakistan to Buy Eight Submarines From China

INDIA, India -- According to an item published in the latest issue of Indian Military Review Pakistan government has approved the purchase of eight submarines from China, according to a decision conveyed during a hearing of the Pakistan National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence. Pakistan has been negotiating the purchase of six submarines – now increased to eight — from China since 2011.

Giving details, the new issue of Indian Military Review, published from New Delhi says Pakistan Navy currently operates five French submarines – three Agosta 90B submarines purchased in the 1990s and two Agosta 70 submarines of late 1970s vintage. It also has three MG110 miniature submarines.

All of the Navy's submarines have been equipped with anti-ship missiles (AShM) which can be fired while submerged. The three submarines, the Khalid class, are equipped and capable of firing Exocet missiles, while the older Agosta 70A submarines have been equipped with United States’ Harpoon missiles. The PNS Hamza submarine has an AIP reactor, containing the MESMA Air Independent Propulsion system, while the PNS Khalid and PNS Saad were upgraded with the same MESMA AIP reactor system. The Navy also plans to integrate the Boeing Harpoon Block-II missile on to its Agosta-90B submarines; and the Agosta-90Bs are capable of firing Black Shark torpedo, an Italian made naval variant.

Reports suggest that Beijing is likely to offer Yuan-class Type-041 diesel-electric submarines in a $4bn-$5bn deal. The Type 041 ‘Yuan’ class is a diesel electric attack submarine (SSK), potentially with Stirling air independent propulsion, that is armed with YJ-2 (YJ-82) anti-ship missiles and a combination of Yu-4 (SAET-50) passive homing and Yu-3 (SET-65E) active/passive homing torpedoes. China has also sold surface ships to the Pakistan Navy in the past. But in the maritime domain, it is fair to say that this is a step-change in China's involvement with the Pakistan military.

Pakistan had earlier tried to purchase three Type 214 diesel-electric submarines from Germany but the deal could not be finalized as Islamabad deemed them to be too expensive. Pakistan also held negotiations with France for acquiring Scorpène-class submarines but the French refused to sell them to Pakistan.

Since 2001, the Navy has been seeking to enhance its strategic strike and precision capability by developing naval variants of the Babur land attack cruise missile (LACM). The Babur LACM has a range of 700 km and is capable of using both conventional and nuclear warheads. Future developments of LACM include capability of being launched from submarines, surface combatants and aircraft.

In comparison, after the INS Sindhurakshak accident in 2013, the number of active duty submarines in the Indian Navy is now down to 13 diesel-electric submarines and the nuclear-powered INS Chakra.


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Indian Military Review

  • Issue by:IMR Apr 2015 Issue
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