Hangor Class Submarine | Updates & Discussion

[Starlord]

I think 1 more will be joining the fleet in 2026.

 

[ghazi52]

Strategic Impact

The Hangor-class submarines significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s potential in several dimensions:

Sea-denial capability: By operating undetected in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, these submarines can deter hostile surface fleets.

Protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs): Pakistan’s trade and energy lifelines, particularly through Gwadar and Karachi, gain robust protection.

Strategic deterrence: With Babur-III integration, Pakistan strengthens its nuclear second-strike capability, ensuring survivability in a crisis.

Industrial growth: Transfer of technology builds indigenous expertise, reducing reliance on foreign maintenance and fostering defence industrial autonomy.

 

[ghazi52]

The Historical Legacy of PNS Hangor

The commissioning of the Hangor-class submarines is not merely a technological milestone—it is a tribute to the valour of the original PNS Hangor.

As recorded in naval history, “Fifty-five years ago, on 9th December 1971, Pakistan Navy’s Daphné-class Submarine Hangor created history, when it sank Indian Navy’s Type 14 frigate Khukri off the coast of Diu, Gujarat, India. Eighteen officers including Khukri’s captain, Mahendra Nath Mulla, and 176 sailors were lost in the sinking.”

Commander Ahmad Tasnim’s daring leadership turned the tide. Despite mechanical failures and overwhelming odds, Hangor struck decisively deep in Indian waters. The sinking of Khukri forced India to cancel “Operation Triumph,” its planned third missile attack on Karachi.

For four days, the Indian Navy deployed hunter-killer groups, aircraft, and helicopters in a desperate bid to trap Hangor, but the submarine evaded pursuit and returned triumphantly to Karachi.

Renowned Indian naval strategists, Vice Admiral Mihir K. Roy and Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli, later acknowledged the shockwaves Hangor’s attack sent through the Indian Navy. Hangor’s saga of valour earned the highest number of operational gallantry awards ever given to a single Pakistan Navy warship.

Today, Pakistan commemorates 9 December as Hangor Day, celebrating the submarine’s unmatched courage. The new Hangor-class submarines inherit this mantle, embodying both tradition and transformation.

 

[ghazi52]

Conclusion

The commissioning of the Hangor-class submarines marks a renaissance in Pakistan’s naval power. With advanced stealth, endurance, and strike capabilities, these submarines will reshape South Asia’s maritime balance, safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty, and honour the legacy of the original Hangor.

As Admiral Qian Xuesen once reminded us, “Science and technology are the primary productive forces.” Pakistan Navy’s Hangor-class exemplifies this dictum—transforming a proud legacy into a formidable future.

Equally resonant is the wisdom of Admiral Zheng He, the Ming dynasty mariner whose voyages epitomized China’s maritime vision: “We have traversed more than one hundred thousand li of immense water spaces… and sown peace across the seas.”

This spirit of maritime exploration and security finds new expression in the Hangor-class, where tradition and technology converge to secure Pakistan’s maritime frontier.

From the lone submarine that humbled a superior adversary in 1971 to a modern fleet of eight AIP-equipped vessels, the Hangor name continues to symbolize resilience, audacity, and deterrence. The hunter that once became the hunted now returns, stronger than ever, to guard Pakistan’s seas.

 

[Yasser76]

Once all inducted this will give PN a much more modern SSK fleet then IN. Never thought I would write that in my lifetime....

 

[studsmart]

This phased approach allows Pakistan Navy to absorb new technologies, train successive crews, and build domestic expertise in submarine construction and sustainment.

Technical Parameters

The Hangor-class submarines are based on the Chinese Type-039A Yuan-class, adapted for Pakistan’s requirements.

Displacement: ~2,800 tons submerged.

Length: ~76 meters; Beam: 8.4 meters.

Speed: 20 knots; Range: ~2,000 nautical miles.

Crew complement: ~36 officers and sailors.

Armament: Six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of launching heavyweight torpedoes, anti-ship cruise missiles, and potentially the Babur-III submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), giving Pakistan a credible second-strike capability.

Training and Induction

To prepare for induction, Pakistan received one Type-039A submarine from China gratis for crew training. This allowed Pakistani submariners to acclimate to AIP operations, stealth tactics, and advanced combat systems.

Karachi Shipyard has expanded its infrastructure—new construction halls, drydock facilities, and Syncrolift systems—to support domestic assembly and long-term sustainment. This transfer of technology ensures Pakistan will not only operate but also maintain and eventually upgrade its submarine fleet indigenously.

Hangor is based on the Type 39B upgrade. The displacement is much higher than 2800, and that will become clear later. I believe 2 of the 6 tubes are 660mm. We will know these details in a bit. I am finding out; if known, they will be shared. Standby please

 

[东风夜放花千树]

Is Pakistan really getting Yu6??

I can't be certain. However, there is a high possibility that Pakistan could acquire the YU-6, because this is the model most suitable for equipping and transferring technology to Pakistan.

 

[东风夜放花千树]

Incorrect, try again, there are reloads, and yes, 6 cruise missiles coming at you would even test a USN battle group let alone the rust bucket IN carriers

Any anti-ship missile poses a threat to a ship.

The practice of calculating how many anti-ship missiles can be intercepted based on the number of fleet air defense missiles is incorrect. For example, on April 13, 2022, Ukraine announced that two Neptune anti-ship missiles targeted Russia's Moskva. In January 2026, it was officially confirmed that the Moskva was sunk by a missile attack from Ukraine. (The Neptune anti-ship missile has a range of 280 km and is a subsonic missile)

Taking six anti-ship missiles as an example, at least 12-18 air defense missiles are needed for interception. If it is a submarine-launched YJ-18, the interception difficulty is even greater. This is because the YJ-18 flies close to the sea surface, making radar scanning difficult, and these missiles have a terminal speed of over Mach 3. In a test video released in our country, a single YJ-18 can disable a 10,000-ton ship.

 

[Yasser76]

Any anti-ship missile poses a threat to a ship.

The practice of calculating how many anti-ship missiles can be intercepted based on the number of fleet air defense missiles is incorrect. For example, on April 13, 2022, Ukraine announced that two Neptune anti-ship missiles targeted Russia's Moskva. In January 2026, it was officially confirmed that the Moskva was sunk by a missile attack from Ukraine. (The Neptune anti-ship missile has a range of 280 km and is a subsonic missile)

Taking six anti-ship missiles as an example, at least 12-18 air defense missiles are needed for interception. If it is a submarine-launched YJ-18, the interception difficulty is even greater. This is because the YJ-18 flies close to the sea surface, making radar scanning difficult, and these missiles have a terminal speed of over Mach 3. In a test video released in our country, a single YJ-18 can disable a 10,000-ton ship.

I know dude, but it is like talking to a 5 year old with that guy...

 

[Toxic]

Any anti-ship missile poses a threat to a ship.

The practice of calculating how many anti-ship missiles can be intercepted based on the number of fleet air defense missiles is incorrect. For example, on April 13, 2022, Ukraine announced that two Neptune anti-ship missiles targeted Russia's Moskva. In January 2026, it was officially confirmed that the Moskva was sunk by a missile attack from Ukraine. (The Neptune anti-ship missile has a range of 280 km and is a subsonic missile)

Taking six anti-ship missiles as an example, at least 12-18 air defense missiles are needed for interception. If it is a submarine-launched YJ-18, the interception difficulty is even greater. This is because the YJ-18 flies close to the sea surface, making radar scanning difficult, and these missiles have a terminal speed of over Mach 3. In a test video released in our country, a single YJ-18 can disable a 10,000-ton ship.

Its been determined that Moskva's air defenses were either turned off or non functional, It didn't even know it was being attacked, and it am was a 80s vintage ship not really comparable to modern IN ships with Barak 8s.

I know dude, but it is like talking to a 5 year old with that guy...

He is correct, non stealth Subsonics don't really pose a big threat to modern warships, if they did PN wouldn't be investing in SMASH or CM-302s it would be content with using harpoons and other subsonics

 

[Yasser76]

Its been determined that Moskva's air defenses were either turned off or non functional, It didn't even know it was being attacked, and it was 80s vintage ship not really comparable to modern IN ships with Barak 8s.


He is correct, non stealth Subsonics don't really pose a big threat to modern warships, if they did PN wouldn't be investing in SMASH or CM-302s it would be content with using harpoons and other subsonics

All depends when they are detected, but you are right, late stage ballastic trajectory is much harder to defend against

 

[Dreamer]

Pakistan Navy Hangor class submarine was launched at the Submarine base in Sanya, China. The below satellite imagery are from Jan 3, 2026 and most likely one or all 4 Hangor-class subs at this base are of Pakistan Navy's Hangor-Class.


View attachment 195092View attachment 195093View attachment 195094View attachment 195095

Your calculations are showing ~67m long ships?
But Hangor is not supposed to be 66-67m long. It's at least 76m long as per reports.

Interesting point is that the sub is "commissioned" not 'inducted", meaning the crew had been in china for a long time for training or we had leased a similar Chinese sub to provide full training well before taking the possession. So no waiting time for the active service, Sub is fully active from day one of coming in Pakistani hands.

We acquired one yuan class training sub from china years ago.

 

[PakAl]

Your calculations are showing ~67m long ships?
But Hangor is not supposed to be 66-67m long. It's at least 76m long as per reports.

Hangor is based on the Type 39B upgrade. The displacement is much higher than 2800, and that will become clear later. I believe 2 of the 6 tubes are 660mm. We will know these details in a bit. I am finding out; if known, they will be shared. Standby please

It is 76m long and 3600T ship. It is based on Type 39A export version but Pakistan spec ship, its highly possible we asked for latest technology ship ie the upgraded Type 39B.

 

[ghazi52]

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[Pakistan Space Agency]

Not too bright are you?

At 450km range they dont have to get though the defences of anything....

and good luck to IN ships trying to stop a volley of sub launched missiles, not even counting the air launched threat too.

IN carriers have played zero part in any India-Pak confrontation for this very reason and back in May 2025 spent a few hours out of port before fleeing back...

It's the typical Indian mindset. The typical scenario:

Pakistan fires (only) 1 nuclear armed missile at India, but India retaliates by firing hundreds towards Pakistan, thus India wins and Pakistan is decimated. The End.

Pakistan has become more and more powerful over the years and decades.

Since around 2015, progress and adoption of new technologies has skyrocketed and we can see other countries being left behind by a long shot.