India’s continued focus on undersea dominance, including the expansion of its nuclear-powered and AIP-equipped submarine fleets, suggests that Pakistan’s submarine power may be limited.
Pakistan is modernising its submarine fleet with the Hangor-class, aiming to enhance its naval capabilities and project power in the Indian Ocean. China recently handed over three of eight new Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, bolstering Islamabad’s naval strength as Beijing aims to try and expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean, a region that is India’s strategic backyard.
The submarine was launched in Wuhan. The second vessel was delivered in March. Pakistan has also received four modern Chinese frigates in recent years, alongside Beijing’s development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea.
Chinese experts describe the Hangor-class as a stealthy platform with long endurance, high mobility, and powerful underwater combat capabilities. The Hangor-class submarines, an export variant of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s (PLA-N) Type 039B Yuan-class submarines, are a product of the agreement signed during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Islamabad in April 2015.
The Hangor-class submarines, while modernising Pakistan’s fleet, face significant challenges navigating to and from operational areas in the northern Arabian Sea due to India’s established Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities, particularly near Karachi Harbour and Ormara Naval Base in Balochistan. These areas represent potential “choke points” where Indian forces, including the INS Arnala, are positioned to detect and potentially neutralise Pakistani submarines.
The coastal waters near Karachi and Ormara are strategically important naval bases for Pakistan. But the shallow waters present challenges for submarines attempting to transit undetected. The route between Karachi and Ormara is relatively close to the coastline, making the submarines more vulnerable to detection by surface ships and aircraft equipped with ASW capabilities.
The northern Arabian Sea, particularly along the Makran coast, has shallow waters, which can restrict the depth at which the submarines can operate and manoeuvre, potentially limiting their ability to evade detection. The presence of islands along the route can create natural chokepoints and areas where submarines might be forced to transit at predictable depths, making them more susceptible to attack.
Moreover, India’s deployment of assets like the INS Arnala, the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft (SWC), and its focus on littoral ASW operations pose a significant challenge to Pakistani submarines attempting to navigate these coastal waters.
India’s ASW arsenal also includes the Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes currently in service with the Indian Navy, the P-8Is, a long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, along with the MH-60R sophisticated multi-mission naval helicopter renowned for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities.
While the Hangor-class submarines offer enhanced capabilities, their ability to operate effectively in the northern Arabian Sea is compromised by India’s superior ASW capabilities. This means that the Hangor fleet submarines could be tracked and destroyed within hours of leaving harbour, forcing them into slow-speed, low-risk transits that limit operational reach and deterrent value. Each of these factors blunts the strategic impact of Pakistan’s submarine arm, even if all eight Hangors arrive on schedule.
Moreover, Hangor’s propulsion remains untested. And the geography leaves little room for stealth. In this environment, the Arabian Sea is less a hunting ground for Pakistan’s new subs and more a fortress where India controls the gates. For the Hangors, the real challenge may be surviving the journey from Karachi’s jetties to the open ocean – because in these waters, they are hunted before they sail.