Pakistan to Buy Chinese AIP Submarines

Pakistan is looking to expand their submarine force, and has found an interesting partner to build the submarines for them.

Islamabad is planning to buy six submarines outright with options of joint development of conventional submarines with China, The Express Tribune reported.

The newspaper did not mention the class of submarines being sought by Pakistan saying merely that Islamabad wanted advanced under-sea vessels with air independent propulsion (AIP) system, which would give them capabilities to stay submerged longer and operate noiselessly.

The Defence Ministry has asked the federal Cabinet to approve the purchase of Chinese submarines to counter “emerging threats” faced by Pakistan, the paper said.

Pakistan has a total of five active diesel electric submarines plus three midget submarines. While the three submarines are of German SSK class, Islamabad had recently inducted two French Agosta class ones.

Doesn't this act as a confirmation that the Yuan class submarine is AIP? I can't imagine Pakistan would order AIP submarines from China if China wasn't already fielding AIP submarines.

China has quickly become the primary supplier of advanced high end military equipment to Pakistan. First advanced fighter aircraft, then frigates, and now submarines.

The other big issue here is that we have yet another country expanding their submarine force. It is only a matter of time, and I'm thinking near term, because the Middle Eastern nations start buying submarines too. The US really needs to get into the conventional submarine construction business, which is a conversation Congress is not having.