Video: Inside Pakistan’s $5B Submarine Deal Of Dependence With China

Pakistan is set to receive its first Chinese-built Hangor-class submarine by 2026 under a $5 billion defense deal with Beijing. The agreement covers eight diesel-electric submarines — four to be constructed in China and four assembled in Pakistan to enhance local shipbuilding capabilities. Modeled on the Type 039A Yuan-class, the Hangor-class comes equipped with air-independent propulsion for extended underwater endurance and advanced stealth features. The project not only strengthens Pakistan’s naval presence in the Arabian Sea but also advances China’s strategic influence in the Indian Ocean through the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. It marks a major step in deepening Beijing-Islamabad military cooperation through shared technology, training, and joint research.