Pakistan bets on Chinese submarines to counter India’s naval dominance: Here's why they won't succeed | Explained

China’s influence extends beyond shipbuilding. Beijing is also investing heavily in Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of the Belt and Road Initiative. The 3,000-kilometre-long corridor connects China’s Xinjiang province to the Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, providing China with a direct route to the Middle East while bypassing the vulnerable Strait of Malacca.

What Beijing presents as “economic cooperation” is, in reality, strategic encirclement. Together with its naval presence in Myanmar, growing influence in Bangladesh, and surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean, China is using Pakistan to tighten the ring around India.

The Hangor-Class: Symbolism and stealth

The Hangor-class submarines, derived from China’s Type 039A Yuan-class design, are diesel-electric attack submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology. This allows them to stay submerged for 15–20 days, compared to conventional submarines that must surface every few days to recharge.

Each submarine displaces around 2,800 tonnes, measures 76 metres in length, and is armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes capable of launching torpedoes and Babur-3 cruise missiles with a range of 450 kilometres. The class revives the name “Hangor,” a reference to the submarine that sank India’s INS Khukri during the 1971 war — a rare Pakistani naval success that Islamabad continues to romanticise.

But beyond nostalgia, the Hangor-class reflects Pakistan’s growing dependence on Chinese weapons. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), more than 60 percent of China’s total arms exports between 2020 and 2024 went to Pakistan, making it Beijing’s largest defence client.

Why India should be concerned

The deployment of the Hangor-class submarines poses several challenges for India. First, their AIP system enhances Pakistan’s capacity for stealth operations, particularly in deeper waters of the Arabian Sea. Second, with CPEC’s expansion and Chinese access to Gwadar, Pakistan’s navy could increasingly function as an auxiliary force for Beijing in the Indian Ocean.

In a crisis scenario, China could leverage Pakistan’s naval bases to monitor or even obstruct Indian maritime movement. This deep strategic coupling blurs the line between Pakistan’s naval ambitions and China’s Indo-Pacific power projection.

Third, Pakistan’s intent to use Chinese unmanned underwater vehicles, AI-driven systems, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities raises the spectre of surveillance missions along Indian sea lines of communication. Islamabad’s narrative of “defensive capability” is a thin cover for Beijing’s expanding footprint under the guise of Pakistani modernisation.

However, despite these developments, Pakistan’s naval capacity remains limited. The Hangor-class fleet, even when complete, cannot offset India’s overwhelming numerical and technological advantage.

India’s response: Dominance built on scale and capability

India’s Navy operates 293 vessels, including two aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers, and 18 submarines. Pakistan, by comparison, has a modest fleet of 121 ships and eight submarines. India’s navy is a blue-water force capable of sustained operations across oceans, while Pakistan remains confined to its coastal zones.

India’s Kalvari-class submarines, based on the French Scorpène design, are smaller and more manoeuvrable than Pakistan’s Hangor-class. While they currently lack AIP systems, India is already integrating indigenously developed AIP technology into future upgrades, closing the endurance gap with Pakistan.

In terms of weaponry, the Kalvari-class is armed with German torpedoes and French Exocet anti-ship missiles: battle-proven systems integrated seamlessly into India’s naval doctrine. Beyond submarines, India’s maritime strength lies in its carrier battle groups, which provide unmatched reach and flexibility in the Indian Ocean.

The upcoming INS Vishal, India’s third aircraft carrier, will further expand its operational reach. With potential nuclear propulsion and advanced launch systems, it will allow India to maintain three carrier groups simultaneously, covering critical chokepoints from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca.

India’s naval strategy also focuses on surveillance and early warning capabilities through P-8I Poseidon aircraft, maritime satellites, and underwater sensors. This extensive network allows India to track submarine movements, including Pakistan’s Hangor-class, well before they pose a threat.

Pakistan’s illusion of parity

Pakistan’s submarine programme may offer a psychological boost, but it does little to alter the regional balance. Islamabad’s reliance on Beijing leaves its military decisions heavily influenced by Chinese interests. The construction of half the submarines in Karachi is being portrayed as “indigenisation,” yet it merely locks Pakistan into decades of dependence on Chinese parts, training, and maintenance.

Meanwhile, India’s defence ecosystem is moving toward self-reliance, with a growing emphasis on domestic shipbuilding. Over 60 vessels are currently under construction in Indian shipyards, strengthening both capability and resilience.

The bigger picture

For China, the Hangor-class deal is less about Pakistan’s security and more about power projection. For Pakistan, it is another attempt to punch above its weight using borrowed technology. For India, it is a reminder that Beijing’s military ambitions are finding new platforms close to its shores.

While the induction of these submarines will generate headlines in Islamabad, the strategic equation remains unchanged. India’s navy continues to hold the decisive advantage, in firepower, reach, and autonomy. The Hangor-class may dive deep, but it will never bridge Pakistan’s widening gap with India’s maritime might.