Pakistan Navy's Hangor Submarine Conducts Maiden Live Missile Firing

Pakistan Navy's newly inducted Hangor-class submarine successfully conducted its first live anti-ship missile firing in the North Arabian Sea, striking a designated target with precision. The exercise, witnessed by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, demonstrated the submarine's operational readiness and combat capability, with government officials including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari commending the milestone.

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Maiden live weapon firing of PNS/M Hangor submarine
Anti-ship cruise missile strike on designated target
Seizure of 2,800 kilograms of narcotics in counter-narcotics operation
Joint intelligence operation confiscating liquor and illegal medicines in Balochistan
Pakistan Navy

Pakistan Navy's newly inducted PNS/M Hangor submarine successfully conducted its maiden live weapon firing in the North Arabian Sea on Sunday, striking a designated long-range target with an anti-ship cruise missile. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the exercise and praised the submarine's combat power, describing it as a major demonstration of operational readiness.

The Hangor-class submarine, which arrived at Karachi Port in June following China-Pakistan defence cooperation, is equipped with advanced combat systems, modern sensors, Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, and enhanced stealth features. The Pakistan Navy plans to induct a total of eight Hangor-class submarines. The first was launched in China in April 2024, with subsequent launches in March, August, and December 2025.

Government officials commended the achievement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Pakistan Navy on the successful firing, emphasising the submarine force's operational preparedness and professional expertise. President Asif Ali Zardari, who attended the submarine's handover ceremony on April 30, praised the navy's enhanced defence capabilities and its role in safeguarding maritime boundaries and regional security.

The submarine's name carries historical significance, referencing the 1971 Pakistan-India war when the original PNS Hangor became the first submarine since World War II to sink a warship, sinking the Indian frigate INS Khukri. This successful firing follows previous Pakistan Navy weapons tests in 2026, including an indigenously developed anti-ship ballistic missile and the Taimoor anti-ship weapon system.

Separately, Pakistan Navy ships HUNAIN and YARMOOK seized over 2,800 kilograms of narcotics valued at approximately $750 million during a joint counter-narcotics operation in the Arabian Sea on September 26. The drugs were recovered from concealed compartments aboard a suspicious vessel intercepted during routine patrol. Admiral Ashraf commended the personnel involved for their professionalism and vigilance.

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#maritime deterrence #Hangor submarine #Arabian Sea #Pakistan Navy #narcotics seizure #anti-ship missile #weapons test #military exercise

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Pakistan Navy's induction of the Hangor-class submarine—equipped with air-independent propulsion and advanced targeting systems—expands the country's undersea warfare capability in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region. The successful live firing validates operational readiness ahead of planned induction of eight vessels total. This development affects regional naval balance, defense procurement timelines, and maritime security postures in South Asia.

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