Key Takeaways
- The newly inducted Hangor-class submarine conducted its maiden live weapon firing in the north Arabian Sea.
- Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the firing, praising the submarine’s combat power.
- The exercise underscores the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to maintaining a modern, combat-ready force.
The Pakistan Navy’s first Hangor-class submarine successfully conducted its maiden live weapon firing in the north Arabian Sea, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The submarine, which arrived at Karachi Port in June, demonstrated its combat readiness by engaging a designated long-range target with an anti-ship cruise missile.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the firing, expressing satisfaction with the submarine’s performance and emphasizing the strategic importance of enhancing subsurface capabilities.
Admiral Ashraf stated, 'The milestone underscores the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to maintaining a modern, combat-ready force to safeguard national maritime frontiers and regional peace.'
The name Hangor holds a significant place in Pakistan’s naval history, as it refers to the 1971 Pakistan-India war, during which then-PNS Hangor became the first submarine since World War II to sink a warship, the Indian frigate INS Khukri.
ISPR termed the exercise a 'major demonstration of operational readiness,' highlighting the deepening strategic defence cooperation between Pakistan and China.
The navy is set to induct a total of eight Hangor-class submarines, further bolstering its maritime capabilities.
The successful live weapon firing marks a significant step in the Pakistan Navy’s modernization efforts and demonstrates the country’s commitment to maritime security.
The milestone underscores the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to maintaining a modern, combat-ready force to safeguard national maritime frontiers and regional peace.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff
