Key Facts
Pakistan has inducted its first Hangor-class submarine, PNS Hangor, over a decade after signing a deal with China in April 2015.
The deal, valued at $4-5 billion, is the largest defence acquisition in Pakistan's history.
Delays and Challenges
The programme has faced significant delays due to various reasons, including Germany's refusal to issue export licences for the MTU engines, pandemic impacts, and design integration issues.
Four submarines were to be constructed in China, while the remaining four were to be assembled at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW).
Impact and Future Plans
Despite the delays, the Pakistan Navy is expected to receive the remaining submarines between 2028 and 2030.
Defence analysts believe that the other three submarines built in China can enter service relatively quickly.
However, the construction of the four submarines to be assembled at KSEW faces an even more difficult future, with the fifth submarine's construction beginning in December 2021 and the sixth boat's keel laying in February 2025.
What Readers Should Know
The Hangor-class procurement programme is a complex and expensive project, with huge investments into the development of necessary infrastructure for submarine building at KSEW.
The programme's delays and cost overruns have raised questions regarding the existence of penalties for missing the delivery deadline.