Pakistan's Submarine PNS Hangor to Enter the Bay of Bengal?

Pakistan is looking to deploy its new Hangor-class submarines into the Bay of Bengal, marking a significant strategic shift in regional naval presence. The Hangor-class is a diesel-electric attack boat built by China, displacing approximately 3,600 tons submerged and measuring 66 meters in length. Each boat carries a crew of around 35 personnel and features Air-Independent Propulsion, an AIP system enabling extended underwater endurance without requiring a snorkel mast for air intake. This capability extends patrol duration to approximately three weeks while remaining undetectable by surface sonar. The submarine is equipped with six forward-mounted torpedo tubes capable of firing heavyweight antiship torpedoes and cruise missiles. Pakistan's Navy has commissioned four units of the class since 2023, with a fifth under construction. Their deployment into the Bay of Bengal marks the first Pakistani submarine presence in India's eastern waters since 1971, when the original PNS Hangor sank the Indian destroyer INS Khukri. This move represents a direct challenge to Indian naval dominance in the region.