China delivers second modern submarines to Pakistan navy

China has delivered a second new submarine, equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, to Pakistan as part of its efforts to beef up the navy of its all-weather ally to back its growing presence in the Arabian Sea and in the Indian Ocean. Official media in Beijing today said, the Hangor-class submarine, which is part of the eight such submarines to Pakistan in a deal with around five billion US Dollars, was launched in Wuhan, China’s Hubei Province. This is in addition to four modern naval frigates China supplied to Pakistan in the last few years as part of its efforts to boost the naval strength of Pakistan, amid the Chinese navy’s steady expansion in the Arabian Sea, where it is developing the Gwadar port in Balochistan.
Pakistan contracted to buy eight of the submarines, the final four of which are to be built by the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works in the Pakistani port city of the same name. The Hangor class is believed to be an export version of China’s 039A submarine, with a crew of 38 plus eight spaces for special forces troops and equipped with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
Pakistan has used submarines in the past to confront India as part of their land wars over disputed territory in the north.According to a Swedish military think tank, China has accounted for more than 81 per cent of Pakistan’s weapons imports over the past five years. Joint venture projects include the Hangor as well as the JF-17 fighter jet.