Pakistan Navy’s newly inducted Hangor-class submarine has carried out its first live weapon firing in the North Arabian Sea, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to the military’s media wing, PNS/M Hangor launched an anti-ship cruise missile during the exercise, successfully striking its designated target at an extended range with precision.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the firing and commended the submarine’s combat capabilities.
He highlighted the importance of continuously strengthening Pakistan Navy’s underwater warfare capabilities to ensure operational preparedness and sustain credible maritime deterrence.
PNS/M Hangor is the first of eight Hangor-class submarines that Pakistan is acquiring from China under its naval fleet modernisation programme.
The submarine features advanced combat and sensor systems, Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology and enhanced stealth capabilities, according to the Pakistan Navy’s Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR).
The vessel was commissioned in April at a ceremony in Sanya, China, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Admiral Naveed Ashraf.
It arrived in Karachi in June and subsequently became part of the Pakistan Navy’s operational fleet.
The induction of the Hangor-class submarines is part of Pakistan-China defence cooperation and Islamabad’s broader efforts to expand and modernise its undersea warfare capabilities.
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