ISLAMABAD – The Karachi Shipyard and Engineering in Karachi has started manufacturing the 6th Hangor-class submarine for Pakistan, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.
The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, who was present at the occasion, mentioned that these submarines will be equipped with the latest technology and weapons.
He also emphasized that it is a top priority of the Naval Headquarters to promote the ship and submarine manufacturing industry. The manufacturing of submarines in Pakistan is a step towards self-sufficiency in this sector.
The admiral appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Industries and Production, the Pakistan Navy, and Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW).
He also acknowledged the cooperation of China Ship Building and offshore international companies in manufacturing the submarines.
Under the defence agreement between Pakistan and China, eight Hangor-class submarines, including four submarines under construction at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group (WSIG) in China, and the remaining four being built at KS&EW under the Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement.
The construction of the first submarine to be made at KS&EW Pakistan commenced in December last year. The Hangor-class submarine is capable of undertaking a variety of missions as per operational requirements. It has advanced stealth features and state-of-the-art weapons and sensors to operate under a multi-threat environment and can engage targets at stand-off ranges.