The navy’s first Hangor-class submarine successfully conducted its maiden live weapon firing in the Arabian Sea, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

The Hangor-class submarine arrived at Karachi Port in June, underscoring the deepening strategic defence cooperation between Pakistan and China.

Terming it a “major demonstration of operational readiness”, ISPR said the newly inducted PNS/M HANGOR accurately engaged a “designated long-range target with an anti-ship cruise missile” during the weapon firing exercise.

​Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the firing, praising the submarine’s combat power and emphasising the “strategic importance of enhancing subsurface capabilities for credible maritime deterrence”.

“The milestone underscores the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to maintaining a modern, combat-ready force to safeguard national maritime frontiers and regional peace,” ISPR highlighted.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Pakistan Navy and its leadership on the first live weapons firing by the newly inducted submarine, according to a statement issued by his office.

“The submarine successfully struck a long-range target with an anti-ship cruise missile, demonstrating the operational readiness, professional expertise and combat capability of Pakistan Navy’s submarine force,” the premier was quoted as saying.

PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the armed forces’ readiness to tackle national security challenges, the statement added. He also commended the Naval chief and the personnel involved in the induction and operationalisation of the submarine.

President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the navy on the successful firing, lauding the “operational readiness and enhancement” of naval defence capabilities, his office said in a post on X.

“Equipped with modern combat capabilities, the Pakistan Navy is playing a vital role in safeguarding national maritime boundaries and ensuring regional peace and security,” President Zardari was quoted as saying.

The statement added that President Zardari was a chief guest at the handover ceremony of the Hangor-class submarine on April 30.

The navy is set to induct a total of eight Hangor-class submarines.

The Hangor-class submarine is equipped with advanced combat systems, modern sensors, Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology and enhanced stealth features, which will significantly enhance the navy’s combat capability.

The name Hangor holds a significant place in Pakistan’s naval history, referring to the 1971 Pakistan-India war, during which then-PNS Hangor became the first submarine since World War II to sink a warship when it sank the Indian frigate INS Khukri.

The first of the new submarines was launched in China in April 2024, while the second, third and fourth were launched on March 15, Aug 15 and Dec 17 in 2025, respectively.

On April 21, the Pakistan Navy conducted a successful test of an indigenously developed Anti-Ship Weapon System — Taimoor, the military’s media wing said.

In the same month, the Pakistan Navy fired a locally developed anti-ship ballistic missile to engage targets at an extended range.

“In a resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range,” the ISPR had said at the time.