The Wait is Almost Over: Pakistan’s Newest Chinese-Built Submarines Will Soon Join the Fleet Quwa Premium

On 17 December, the fourth S26/Sort 039B Hangor-class submarine (PNS/M Ghazi) was launched for sea trials, whereas the second of 4 MILGEM Babur-class corvettes (PNS Khaibar) was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy (PN) fleet on 21 December.

In line with a press launch by the PN’s Director Common of Public Relations (DGPR), all 4 of the Hangor-class submarines inbuilt China are “present process rigorous sea trials and are within the closing levels of being handed over to Pakistan.” 

The lead boat (PNS/M Hangor) was launched for sea trials in April 2024, whereas the second (PNS/M Shushuk) and third (PNS/M Mangro) boats set sail in March and August 2025, respectively.

The PN Chief of Naval Employees (CNS), Admiral Naveed Ashraf, said that the Hangor-class submarines will enter service with the PN in 2026. The 4 Chinese language-built boats will be part of the PN fleet in fast succession or as a batch, thereby giving the sub-surface fleet an instantaneous functionality enhance.

The 4 remaining boats are being constructed at Karachi Shipyards & Engineering Works (KSEW), with the primary getting into manufacturing in December 2021, and work on the sixth started in February 2025. 

Pakistan ordered the S26 from China Shipbuilding & Offshore Worldwide Co. Ltd (CSOC) in 2015 as a part of a multibillion-dollar deal that included know-how switch (ToT) for home manufacturing.

Initially, all eight boats have been scheduled for supply to the PN by 2028. Nevertheless, pandemic-related delays and Germany’s refusal to concern export permits for the unique MTU diesel engine pushed the procurement program by a number of years, doubtless into the early 2030s. 

As for the Babur-class corvette program, Pakistan ordered the ships from ASFAT A.S. in 2018 beneath a USD $1.5 billion deal, beneath which two of the 4 boats can be constructed regionally by KSEW. 

The lead ship (PNS Babur) was commissioned into the PN fleet in September 2024. Whereas it has taken 15-16 months for the second ship to affix the PN fleet, the opposite two – i.e., the ships constructed beneath license at KSEW – are present process sea trials. 

The follow-on program to the Babur-class corvette – i.e., the Jinnah-class frigate – has additionally commenced with the PN signing a contract with KSEW to construct the primary vessel in November 2025.

Total, the PN’s present procurement pipeline seems to be on monitor, albeit slower than deliberate.