July 10, 2025 – Bharat Global Time
In a major jolt to Pakistan’s navy and defense dreams, China has reportedly put the brakes on the much-hyped Hangor-class submarine deal. Why? Because the submarine’s core brain—the Combat Management System (CMS)—has failed multiple times during sea trials.
This means Pakistan’s plan to compete with India’s underwater firepower is now in serious trouble.
The Heart of the Problem: CMS Failure
So what went wrong?
According to insiders in China’s shipbuilding circuit, the submarine’s CMS — the system that controls targeting, firing, and tracking enemy movement — simply didn’t work as expected.
During simulations, the software reportedly:
- Froze in the middle of operations
- Couldn’t process multiple threats at once
- Even rebooted randomly mid-test, like a crashed phone
“You can’t send a $600 million war machine underwater if its systems crash like a cheap laptop,” said a source close to the project.
The $5 Billion Headache
Pakistan had signed a massive $5 billion deal with China for 8 Hangor-class submarines—half to be built in China, half at Karachi Shipyard. The first delivery was expected by late 2024. But after these embarrassing technical failures, China has quietly suspended further deliveries and put the entire deal under “technical review.”
This delay could now stretch for 2 years or more, sources say.
India Quietly Surges Ahead
While Pakistan scrambles for answers, India is cruising ahead underwater.
The Indian Navy already operates nuclear-powered submarines like:
- INS Arihant
- INS Arighat
And with Project SSN rolling out, India is planning more indigenous nuclear attack submarines—fitted with home-grown CMS and smart underwater tracking systems.
“We don’t borrow brains. We build them,” a senior Indian Navy official said.
Why Pakistan Should Be Worried
Let’s put it bluntly — a submarine without a working CMS is just a floating metal coffin. You can’t track threats, can’t fire missiles accurately, and can’t survive modern naval warfare.
With tensions high in the Indian Ocean, this delay puts Pakistan in a serious strategic disadvantage.
This Isn’t the First Chinese Flop
China’s defense exports have faced growing criticism in recent years. Remember:
- Pakistan’s JF-17 jets often suffer from radar and engine issues.
- Chinese-made 054A frigates are reportedly vulnerable to Indian jamming.
- And now, even the Hangor submarines—China’s pride—are facing tech meltdowns.
Global Fallout: Everyone’s Watching
The news has rattled other countries too. Nations like Egypt and Algeria, who were eyeing similar submarines, are now re-evaluating their purchases.
Meanwhile, China’s reputation as a reliable defense partner is taking a hit.
Bottom Line: Bad News for Islamabad
For Pakistan, this was supposed to be a game-changer—a stealthy fleet that could tilt the balance in the Indian Ocean.
Instead, they’re left with nothing but a delay, rising costs, and a partner (China) who’s clearly not ready for prime-time underwater warfare.
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