Current Capabilities
The Pakistani Navy currently operates a fleet of eight diesel-electric submarines.[1] The vessels are based in Karachi, but in the future they are to be based at Port Ormara.[1] The main submarine fleet is comprised of four aging Daphne-class units, two Agosta-70 boats, as well as two modern Agosta-90B submarines, all of French design. An additional Agosta-90B is under construction. The final Agosta 90B will feature DCN's air-independent propulsion system, MESMA (Module d'Energie Sous-Marin Autonome), with which the two earlier Agosta-90B vessels will be retrofitted in the future. Pakistan has also announced its intention to construct additional submarines, in order to maintain its conventional deterrent against India.[2,3] The Pakistani Navy also has four Italian-designed midget submarines. These vessels, as well as the newest Agosta-90B boats, are being constructed at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.[4]
During the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, India effectively blockaded Karachi, Pakistan's only major harbor. Pakistani efforts to curtail India's naval supremacy were largely limited to its submarine force, which was able to sink an Indian frigate.[5] Drawing on these experiences and the perceived threat posed by a larger Indian Navy, Pakistan has been continuously investing in its submarine force, within the constraints posed by its economy.
An effective sea-denial capability is of utmost importance to Pakistan, as 95 percent of its imports are transported by ship.[6] Consequently, Pakistan's Navy in general and submarine flotilla in particular are tasked with protecting Pakistani maritime interests and guaranteeing the security of its sea lanes, and thus its access, to the northern Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea.[6,7,8]
In February 2001, the Pakistani Navy publicly considered the deployment of nuclear weapons aboard its submarines, arguing that it had to keep pace with developments in India.[9] However, in January 2003 Pakistan rescinded its statement, explaining that such an endeavor would be too costly.[10] Yet, shortly afterwards, a high-ranking naval officer stated that while Pakistan currently did not plan to arms its submarines with nuclear weapons, it would do so if forced.[11] Some have alleged that Pakistan is able to mount a nuclear device onto its French-provided SM39 Exocet missiles; however, this is currently unlikely due to the difficulty involved in building a nuclear warhead small enough for the missile (the Exocet normally carries a 165 kg warhead).[12,13]
Khalid (Agosta 90B)
Displacement, tons: 1,510 surfaced
1,760 submerged (1,960 with MESMA)
Dimensions, ft (m): 221.7×22.3×17.7
(67.6×6.8×5.4)
Main machinery: Hybrid diesel-electric/MESMA AIP
Speed, knots: 12 surfaced
20 submerged
Range, miles: 8,500 at 9kt snorting; 350 at 3.5kt submerged, quadrupled at 4kt with MESMA
Complement: 36 (7 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m): 1,050 (320)
Endurance: 68 days
Weapons: 4 SSMs and 16 torpedoes; four 21in (533mm) tubes; mines in lieu of torpedoes
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003).
A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, p. 537.
David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), pp. 248-249.
Pakistani Navy Website,
PAGE.htm
Hashmat (Agosta 70)
Displacement, tons: 1,490 surfaced
1,740 submerged PNS KHALID (AGOSTA 90-B CLASS)
Dimensions, ft (m): 221.7×22.3×17.7
(67.6×6.8×5.4)
Main machinery: Diesel-electric
Speed, knots: 12 surfaced
20 submerged
Range, miles: 8,500 at 9 knots surfaced
350 at 3.5 knots submerged
Complement: 59 (8 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m): 985 (300)
Endurance: Not available
Weapons: 20 SSMs and torpedoes; four 21.7in (550mm) tubes; mines in lieu of torpedoes
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003).
A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, pp. 537-538.
David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), pp. 248-249.
Pakistani Navy Website,
.
Hangor (Daphne)
Displacement, tons: 869 surfaced
1,043 submerged PNS HASMAT (AGOSTA CLASS)
Dimensions, ft (m): 189.6×22.3×15.1
(57.8×6.8×4.6)
Main machinery: diesel-electric
Speed, knots: 13 surfaced
15.5 submerged
Range, miles: 4,500 at 5 knots surfaced
3,000 at 7 knots snorting
Complement: 53 (7 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m): 985 (300)
Endurance: Not available
Weapons: 12 SSMs and torpedoes; twelve 21.7in (550mm) tubes; mines in lieu of torpedoes
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003).
A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World p. 538.
David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002) p. 246-249.
Pakistani Navy Website,
.
ACTIVE DUTY SUBMARINES
Name (Number) Class Base Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned
Hangor (S131) Hangor Karachi DCN (Naval Arsenal, Brest) January 1967 June 1969 January 1970
Shushuk (S132) Hangor Karachi DCN (C.N. Ciotat, Le Trait) January 1967 July 1969 January 1970
Mangro (S133) Hangor Karachi DCN (C.N. Ciotat, Le Trait) July 1968 February 1970 August 1970
Ghazi (ex-Cachalote)* (S135) Hangor Karachi DCN (Dubigeon, Nantes) October 1966 February 1968 January 1969
Hashmat (ex-Astrant) (S135) Hashmat Karachi DCN (Dubigeon, Nantes) September 1976 December 1977 February 1979
Hurmat (ex-Adventurous) (S136) Hashmat Karachi DCN (Dubigeon, Nantes) September 1977 December 1978 February 1980
Khalid (S137) Khalid Karachi DCNI (Cherbourg) July 1995 August 1998 September 1999
Saad (S138) Khalid Karachi Karachi Shipyard June 1998 2000 December 2003
Hamza (S139) Khalid Karachi Shipyard January 1997 2005 2006
*Purchased second-hand from Portugal.
Sources:
A.D. Baker III, Combat Fleets of the World: 2000-2001 (Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute, 2000).
"Pakistan - Navy," Global Security Website,
Zarar Khan, "Pakistan inducts first locally built submarine into navy," Associated Press, December 12, 2003; in Lexis-Nexis,
.
Sources:
[1]Abhijit Bhattacharyya, "Rise of an oily Navy," The Pioneer, August 9, 2000; in "Indian daily views implications of shifting of Pak Navy bases," FBIS Document SAP20000809000038.
[2] Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah, as cited in Zarar Khan, "Pakistan navy to get four frigates from China," Associated Press, September 15, 2004; in Lexis-Nexis,
.
[3]Edward C. Whitman, "Air-Independent Propulsion: AIP Technology Creates A New Undersea Threat," U.S. Navy Website,
.
[4] "Pakistan - Navy," Global Security Website,
.
[5] Jacques Isnard, "A Navy to a large extent under France's wing," Le Monde online edition,
, May 9, 2002; in "Report details close links between France and Pakistani Navy," FBIS Document EUP20020509000030.
[6] Interview with Admiral Fasih Bokhari, Chief of Naval Staff, "The importance of the Pakistani Navy for its country's security," Naval Forces, 1999, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 22-25; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company,
.
[7] Interview with Admiral Shahid Karimullah, Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistani Navy by Wolfgang Legien; in "Austral-Asian security comments: Navy chiefs interviewed by Naval Forces editor-in-chief," Naval Forces, 2003, No. 2, pp.55; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company,
.
[8] "PN’s achievement," The News, August 27, 2002; in "Pakistan daily sees critical role for Navy as protector of country’s coastline," FBIS Document SAP20020827000076.
[9] Zahid Hussain Karachi, "Pakistan May Put Nukes on Submarines," Associated Press, February 22, 2001.
.
[10] "Pak Rules Out Nuclear Platform for Subs, To Upgrade Navy," The Press Trust of India Limited, January 15, 2003; in Dow Jones Interactive Database.
[11] "World Roundup," The Miami Herald, January 26, 2003, p13. Herald Wire Services; in Dow Jones Interactive Database.
[12] "Pakistan launches locally built submarine," Pak News online edition,
, August 25, 2002.
[13] "Exocet AM.39 / MM.40," Federation of American Scientists Website,
.
