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Submarine Proliferation

Pakistan Current Capabilities

Capabilities | Import | Export

The Pakistani Navy currently operates a fleet of eight diesel-electric submarines.[1] The vessels are based in Karachi, but in the future they are to be based at Port Ormara.[1]  The main submarine fleet is comprised of four aging Daphne-class units, two Agosta-70 boats, as well as two modern Agosta-90B submarines, all of French design. An additional Agosta-90B is under construction. The final Agosta 90B will feature DCN's air-independent propulsion system, MESMA (Module d'Energie Sous-Marin Autonome), with which the two earlier Agosta-90B vessels will be retrofitted in the future. Pakistan has also announced its intention to construct additional submarines, in order to maintain its conventional deterrent against India.[2,3] The Pakistani Navy also has four Italian-designed midget submarines. These vessels, as well as the newest Agosta-90B boats, are being constructed at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.[4]

During the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, India effectively blockaded Karachi, Pakistan's only major harbor. Pakistani efforts to curtail India's naval supremacy were largely limited to its submarine force, which was able to sink an Indian frigate.[5] Drawing on these experiences and the perceived threat posed by a larger Indian Navy, Pakistan has been continuously investing in its submarine force, within the constraints posed by its economy.

An effective sea-denial capability is of utmost importance to Pakistan, as 95 percent of its imports are transported by ship.[6] Consequently, Pakistan's Navy in general and submarine flotilla in particular are tasked with protecting Pakistani maritime interests and guaranteeing the security of its sea lanes, and thus its access, to the northern Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea.[6,7,8] 

In February 2001, the Pakistani Navy publicly considered the deployment of nuclear weapons aboard its submarines, arguing that it had to keep pace with developments in India.[9] However, in January 2003 Pakistan rescinded its statement, explaining that such an endeavor would be too costly.[10] Yet, shortly afterwards, a high-ranking naval officer stated that while Pakistan currently did not plan to arms its submarines with nuclear weapons, it would do so if forced.[11] Some have alleged that Pakistan is able to mount a nuclear device onto its French-provided SM39 Exocet missiles; however, this is currently unlikely due to the difficulty involved in building a nuclear warhead small enough for the missile (the Exocet normally carries a 165 kg warhead).[12,13]

In January 2006, the Pakistan Navy (PN) decommissioned all four of their Hangor-class submarines:  Hangor, Shushuk, Mangro and Ghazi at the dockyard in Karachi.  This decommissioning brings the total number of active duty submarines in the Pakistani Navy down to five.  However, Pakistan is to receive three Agosta 90B-class boats from France during 2006.[14]

Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003).
A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, p. 537.
David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), pp. 248-249.
Pakistani Navy Website, http://paknavy.gov.pk/FLEET/MAIN PAGE.htm

Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003).
A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, pp. 537-538.
David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), pp. 248-249.
Pakistani Navy Website, http://paknavy.gov.pk.

Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003).
A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World p. 538.
David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002) p. 246-249.
Pakistani Navy Website, http://paknavy.gov.pk.

Sources:
A.D. Baker III, Combat Fleets of the World: 2000-2001 (Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute, 2000).
"Pakistan - Navy," Global Security Website, http://www.globalsecurity.org
Zarar Khan, "Pakistan inducts first locally built submarine into navy," Associated Press, December 12, 2003; in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

Sources:
[1] Interview with Vice Admiral Clees van Duyvendijk, Commander in Chief RNN, "Navy chiefs of staff on MCM and minelaying," Naval Forces, 2001, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 62-68; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[2] "Chamber of approves deployment of Netherlands troops," NRC Handelsblad, 16 November 2001; in "Netherlands parliament approves troop deployment in Afghanistan," FBIS Document EUP2001111800022.
[3] Paul Berrill, "RDM profits hit by restructuring," Loyd's List International, 8 June 1991; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[4] "Worldwide Naval Projections Report for Netherlands, October 2001," AMI International Website, http://www.amiinter.com.
[5] Steven Derix, "Decommissioned Orion aircraft not yet superfluous," NRC Handelsblad, 15 September 2003; in "Defense cuts affect air patrol capacities of Netherlands mission in Iraq," FBIS Document EUP20030916000523.
[6] "Armed forces will drastically shrink," NRC Handelsblad, 1 July 2003; in "Netherlands minister details defense cuts in letter to parliament," FBIS Document EUP20030702000508.
[7] "Defense Ministry Seeks Personnel," De Volkskrant, 17 September 1997; in "Armed Forces 1998 Reorganization, Staffing Needs Outlined" FBIS Document FTS19970917000802.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2010 by MIIS.