Pak Navy’s submarine conducts live weapon firing

KARACHI
Pakistan Navy’s newly inducted submarine Hangor-class successfully conducted its maiden live weapon firing in the North Arabian Sea, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Sunday. During the firing, the submarine launched an anti-ship cruise missile, which engaged the designated target with precision at extended range, the military’s media wing said.
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the firing and appreciated PNS/M Hangor’s combat power. The naval chief emphasised the continued enhancement of subsurface warfare capabilities to ensure operational readiness and maintain credible deterrence at sea. PNS/M Hangor is the first of eight Hangor-class submarines being acquired by Pakistan from China as part of the Pakistan Navy’s fleet modernisation programme.
The submarine is equipped with advanced combat systems, modern sensors, Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology and enhanced stealth features. PNS/M Hangor was commissioned in April at a ceremony in Sanya, China, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Admiral Naveed Ashraf. The submarine subsequently arrived in Karachi in June, marking its entry into the Pakistan Navy’s operational fleet.
The commissioning and induction of the Hangor-class submarines form part of Pakistan-China defence cooperation and Pakistan Navy’s efforts to strengthen its undersea warfare capabilities. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Sunday, congratulated the Pakistan Navy and its leadership on the successful first live weapon-firing test of the newly inducted submarine, PNS/M Hangor.
The prime minister said hitting a long-range target with pinpoint accuracy using an anti-ship cruise missile stood as clear testimony to the exceptional operational preparedness, professional expertise, and high combat capability of the Pakistan Navy’s submarine force.
He also reiterated government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the complete readiness of the armed forces in countering any challenge to national security, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.