Launched in Wuhan, hunted in Arabian Sea: Why Pak Hangors can't tip the balance

On August 15, 2025, while India marked Independence Day at home, a ceremony was staged in central China's Wuhan.

- ASHISH SINGH

At the Wuchang Shipyard, the third Hangor-class submarine for Pakistan slid down the slipway into the water. State media called it a delivery. Commentators described it as a "big worry" for India. Officials in Islamabad spoke of a leap in deterrence. The vessel, according to celebratory reports, was equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP), modern sensors, and cutting-edge stealth.

Scratch beneath the surface, however, and the fanfare looks far less impressive. A launch does not equal delivery. From now on, the submarine faces a long process of outfitting, trials and crew training before it can be considered combat-ready. Its propulsion system relies on Chinese engines that have never been proven in service abroad. Its export configuration will almost certainly be a downgraded version of what the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) keeps for itself. And, crucially, to reach the open waters of the Arabian Sea, the boat must leave Karachi or Ormara through shallow, noisy littorals that are already saturated with Indian anti-submarine patrols and sensors.

The Hangor is, therefore, less a story of Pakistan's growing strength than of its deepening dependency on China. It is also a story of India's quiet but sustained investment in capabilities designed precisely to ensure that these boats, even if they eventually become operational, will be hunted long before they pose a credible threat.

FROM CEREMONY TO COMBAT Navies around the world hold launch ceremonies, but experienced planners know the distinction between a vessel entering the water and one joining the fleet. Sea acceptance trials, combat system integration, weapons qualification and crew work-ups can take 18 months or more. The third Hangor launched in Wuhan is still far from sailing a combat patrol under the Pakistani flag.

This is not the first time Islamabad has blurred the line.