Hangor class in Pakistan is an export variant of 039A SSK dubbed S20. Pakistan ordered eight submarines in Apr 2015. The first four are being built in China, while the remaining four will be built in Pakistan's KSEW. This is the steel cutting ceremony of the fifth boat, the first to be constructed in Pakistan. Pakistan currently has three Agosta 90B AIP SSK, and two Agosta 70 SSK.

Pakistan Cuts Steel for 5th Hangor-class submarine "PNS TASNIM"

The Pakistan Navy held a steel cutting ceremony for the fifth Hangor-class submarine at the Karachi shipyard on December 9, according to the Pakistan Navy's official social media accounts.

Tayfun Ozberk 10 Dec 2021

Pakistan Navy press release

Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of HANGOR Day, steel cutting of the 5th HANGOR-class Submarine, the first to be built indigenously in Pakistan, was also held at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW).

The in making HANGOR Class Submarine is capable to undertake war and peacetime roles as per Maritime dictates. The Submarine possesses advanced stealth features to operate under a multi-threat environment and its state-of-the-art sensors are integrated with Command & Control system which can simultaneously track engage several targets at standoff ranges.

The Submarine would be named PNS TASNIM upon commissioning, in honor of ex-PNS HANGOR crew led by Vice Admiral (Retd) Ahmad Tasnim. On the occasion of the Steel cutting ceremony, the Chief of the Naval Staff expressed gratitude to all involved in construction activities and termed the occasion as another event of deepening relation between Pakistan and China. The Steel Cutting ceremony was attended by representatives of DA China and other high-ranking officials including distinguished guests from the Embassy of China in Islamabad, MoDP, Pakistan Navy, and KS&EW.

Besides, a submarine seminar on ‘Technological Advent In Artificial Intelligence: Impact On Sub-Surface Domain’ was also held at Jauhar Auditorium Karachi, highlighting the shape of PN submarine force over the next decade after induction of 8 x HANGOR class submarines and SWATs.