Pakistan to get eight new submarines from Chi

Beijing, Aug 31:  Pakistan is to receive eight modified diesel-electric attack submarines from Chi by 2028, media reports said. The head of Pakistan’s next-generation submarine programme made the announcement to the country’s tiol Assembly Standing Committee on Defence on August 26, Sputnik News Intertiol reported.

The agreement between the two tions is valued at $4-$5 billion and it is anticipated that Chi will extend a low interest rate loan.

The announcement also confirmed that the project was moving ahead, but was not clear whether a contract has been signed.

Rear Admiral Syed Hassan sir Shah announced in April that a contract had been secured by the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) to construct four of the eight submarines, with the other four being built by the Chi Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC).

The submarines will be fitted with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems.

In April 2011, the Chi State Shipbuilding Industrial Corp signed a contract to supply six Type 032 Qing-class conventiol attack submarines by 2016 or 2017. “In the recent past, there have been reports of discussions for the Type 041 submarines,” a Pakistan Foreign Ministry official said. According to reports, Pakistan will also build two types of submarines with Chinese assistance: the Project S-26 and Project S-30. These are to be built at the Submarine Rebuild Complex (SRC) facility being developed at Ormara, west of Karachi. Most alysts believe that the new craft would be a lighter version of the Type 039 and Type 041 Yuan-class conventiol attack submarine used by the People’s Liberation Army vy (PLAN).

The export version of the smaller submarine, weighing 2,300 tonnes, was desigted as S20. The first four submarines were stated to be delivered by the end of 2023.

The others being assembled in Karachi were set to be completed by 2028. This acquisition of new submarine was a part of Pakistan’s effort to upgrade its capabilities in underwater warfare.

It is believed that the eight submarines would form the foundation of the country’s growing sea-based nuclear second-strike triad. (IANS)