The launch ceremony of the Pakistan Navy’s third Hangor-class submarine, PNS Mangro (MANGRO), was held at the Shuangliu base of Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Limited in Wuhan, China. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Project-2), Vice Admiral Abdul Samad, attended the event as the chief guest.
In his address at the ceremony, the chief guest emphasized the growing importance of maritime security in light of the current geo-strategic environment in the region. He reaffirmed that the Pakistan Navy is fully committed to safeguarding national interests while also contributing to the promotion of a secure, peaceful, and cooperative maritime domain.
Referring to the Hangor-class submarines, Vice Admiral Abdul Samad highlighted that these submarines, equipped with advanced weapon systems and state-of-the-art sensors, will play a vital role in maintaining regional peace, stability, and balance of power, while also significantly enhancing the Pakistan Navy’s operational capabilities.
He also appreciated the dedicated efforts of China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company Limited (CSOC) and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project. He noted that the Hangor-class submarine program will add a new dimension to the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.
It is worth mentioning that the Government of Pakistan had signed an agreement with CSOC for the acquisition of eight Hangor-class submarines, out of which four are being constructed in China, while the remaining four are to be built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited (KS&EW) under a transfer of technology (ToT) arrangement.
The launch ceremony was attended by senior officials from both Pakistan and China, including representatives from Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Limited and China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company Limited.
