Archive · 26 Jul 2025
India's ASW Superiority Threatens Pakistan's Submarine Plans
Pakistan is buying submarines from China, but India has really good ways of finding and stopping submarines, called Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
India has lots of planes, ships, and submarines with special equipment to find other submarines.
The new Chinese submarines for Pakistan might not be as good as India's technology, making them easy to find.
India's ASW includes advanced tech and partnerships that allow them to watch the waters closely.
Because India is good at finding submarines, the new submarines Pakistan is buying may not be very useful.
It is expensive for Pakistan, and the submarines may become outdated quickly.
Pakistan's planned acquisition of Chinese-built Hangor-class submarines faces challenges due to India's ASW capabilities.
India has a multi-layered anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system including surface, subsurface, and aerial platforms.
Hangor-class submarines, based on China's S26 design, may be outdated compared to modern detection systems.
India's ASW dominance includes advanced sonar, maritime patrol aircraft, and hunter-killer submarines.
The Hangor project is expensive, and its operational benefits may be limited due to delays and integration issues.
- Who
- Pakistan and India, with China involved in supplying submarines.
- What
- The challenges faced by Pakistan's Chinese-built Hangor-class submarines due to India's superior anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
- When
- Ongoing, with India continuously developing its ASW capabilities.
- Where
- Indian Ocean Region (IOR), particularly the Arabian Sea.
- Why
- India's advanced ASW systems render Pakistan's Hangor-class submarines vulnerable, potentially undermining Pakistan's undersea deterrence.
Pakistan's Perspective
India's Perspective
Undersea Warfare Capabilities
Pakistan's Perspective
Acquiring Chinese submarines to modernize undersea warfare capabilities and bolster deterrence.
India's Perspective
India's superior anti-submarine warfare capabilities, undermining the intended strategic advantage.
- Submarine Class
- Hangor-class
- Origin of Submarines
- China
- India's ASW Platforms
- P-8I Poseidon, ASW corvettes, ASW-SWC, MH-60R Seahawk, Scorpene-class submarines
- India's Strategic Advantage
- Maritime domain awareness via satellite-based surveillance and intelligence sharing
- Hangor Project Cost
- $5 billion (estimated)
- India's AIP Technology
- Indigenous, to be retrofitted into future Kalvari-class variants