The commissioning ceremony of the first Hangor-class attack submarine, PNS Hangor, was held in China’s Sanya city, with President Asif Ali Zardari and the naval chief attending the event.

President Zardari, who is on a visit to China, participated as the chief guest, while Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf was also present, according to a press release by the Pakistan Navy.

President Zardari described the commissioning of Hangor as a historic milestone in the navy’s modernisation, affirming Pakistan’s resolve to maintain a “robust, balanced and credible defence posture”.

He affirmed that Pakistan was fully capable of defending its sovereignty, protecting its maritime interests and ensuring the security of its economic lifelines.

“The advanced submarine strengthens Pakistan’s maritime defence, protects economic lifelines and reflects strategic partnership with China,” a statement by the Presidency said.

The submarine class, named after the PNS Hangor, is a diesel-electric attack submarine with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology, which allows it to travel over greater distances before resurfacing.

Meanwhile, Admiral Ashraf highlighted that disruptions at critical maritime choke points increasingly threaten global trade and energy security.

He noted that maintaining a “stable, rule-based maritime order demands technologically advanced naval forces”.

The naval chief observed that Hangor-class submarines — armed with state-of-the-art weapons, advanced sensors and AIP technology — “will be key in preserving maritime order and stability in the region”.

“These submarines will play a pivotal role in deterring aggression and ensuring security of vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) across the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean region,” he was quoted as saying.

Admiral Ashraf said the name Hangor holds a significant place in Pakistan’s history, referring to the 1971 Pakistan-India war, when then-PNS Hangor became the first submarine to sink a warship after World War II, sinking the Indian frigate INS Khukri.

After being decommissioned, the Hangor is now on display at the Pakistan Maritime Museum in Karachi.

“PNS/M HANGOR will carry this illustrious legacy forward, as this is an important milestone for Pakistan Navy that will bolster our maritime defence and modernise our fleet with cutting-edge technology,” the naval chief stated.

In its press release, the navy highlighted that the commissioning of the first Hangor-class submarine marked “another chapter in the time-tested and enriching friendship between Pakistan and China”.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from both countries’ navies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir congratulated the entire nation and the navy on “achieving this historic milestone”, the statement said.

According to Admiral Ashraf, the Pakistan Navy is set to induct a total of eight Hangor-Class submarines.

The navy launched the first of the new submarines in April 2024, while the second, third and fourth were launched on March 15, August 15 and December 17 in 2025, respectively.