The Bay of Bengal Naval Sweep:

Pakistan’s Hangor Submarines and India’s Maritime Defense

By Mitin Sheth (Shanilohit) | JUNE 23, 2026

         

Pakistan now plans to deploy its new Hangor-class submarine in the Bay of Bengal… History echoes, yet India’s shield stands stronger than ever. The Bay of Bengal has historically been India’s strategic backyard, dominated by the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command headquartered at Visakhapatnam. However, recent developments involving Pakistan’s induction of China-built Hangor-class submarines, warming ties with Bangladesh, and China’s deepening naval footprint in the region have created a new maritime dynamic.

This article explores Pakistan’s intentions, China’s strategic calculus, Bangladesh’s role, and India’s position in this evolving theatre.

 

Executive Summary

Pakistan, with Chinese backing, is attempting to re-establish a naval presence in the Bay of Bengal for the first time since the 1971 war. The induction of Hangor-class submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology allows Pakistan to operate stealthily and for longer durations. Bangladesh, under new leadership, has expanded defense cooperation with Islamabad and Beijing, including hosting Chinese-built submarine bases.

China’s involvement is part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy to encircle India and secure maritime access routes. India, through its Eastern Naval Command and Andaman & Nicobar Command, remains well-positioned to counter these moves, but the strategic competition is intensifying. The legacy of PNS Ghazi and Hangor underscores the symbolic and operational importance of submarines in Indo-Pak naval rivalry. The Bay of Bengal is now a contested space where India must leverage its superior naval assets, surveillance, and alliances to route adversarial intentions.

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 Historical Echoes: The Ghost of Ghazi and the Khukri Trauma

The Bay of Bengal has long been considered India’s maritime backyard, a region where the Indian Navy has maintained overwhelming dominance since the 1971 war. Yet, recent developments involving Pakistan’s acquisition of Chinese-built Hangor-class submarines, Bangladesh’s growing naval cooperation with Beijing, and China’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy have introduced new complexities into this theatre. To understand the intentions of Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh, and to evaluate India’s position, it is necessary to trace the historical trajectory of submarine warfare in South Asia, analyze the technological advancements now at play, and assess the strategic stakes in the Bay of Bengal.

Pakistan’s submarine ambitions are not new. In 1971, during the Indo-Pak war, Pakistan deployed the submarine PNS Ghazi to the Bay of Bengal with the mission of destroying India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Ghazi’s deployment was bold, as it represented Pakistan’s attempt to project power far beyond its traditional sphere in the Arabian Sea. However, Ghazi met its end off the coast of Visakhapatnam, where it sank under mysterious circumstances, either due to Indian depth charges or an internal explosion.

Its destruction was a turning point, symbolizing India’s dominance in the eastern theatre. Yet, Pakistan’s Daphne-class submarine PNS Hangor achieved a notable success in the Arabian Sea by sinking INS Khukri, marking India’s only wartime naval loss. These twin episodes etched submarines into the collective memory of Indo-Pak naval rivalry, with Ghazi representing failure and Hangor representing success.

           Technical Inventory: The Chinese Type 039A Yuan and AIP Stealth

Fast forward to the present, Pakistan has inducted the new Hangor-class submarines, built in China and equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. These submarines, based on the Chinese Type 039A Yuan-class design, can remain submerged for extended periods, making them harder to detect and more survivable.

Pakistan plans to acquire eight such submarines, with four built in China and four constructed in Karachi under technology transfer agreements. The deliberate naming of the first submarine as PNS Hangor is symbolic, invoking the legacy of 1971 and signaling renewed underwater capability aimed at India’s eastern seaboard. Pakistani naval officials have described the Hangor as a “game changer,” capable of projecting power into the Bay of Bengal and beyond.

Encirclement Architecture: The Cox’s Bazar Logistical Footholds

China’s role in this development is central. Beijing has supplied submarines not only to Pakistan but also to Bangladesh and Myanmar, while constructing submarine bases in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong. Bangladesh received two Ming-class submarines from China in 2016, and with Chinese assistance, inaugurated the Sheikh Hasina submarine base in 2023.

This facility, capable of hosting six submarines and eight warships, represents a significant expansion of Bangladesh’s naval infrastructure. While officially intended for Bangladesh’s fleet, the base could potentially serve Chinese or Pakistani vessels in the future, providing logistical support and extending operational reach.

This infrastructure footprint forms a direct geopolitical chokepoint. To systematically neutralize this dual-use military threat across the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Navy has radically accelerated its undersea surveillance networks, deploying long-range P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft and advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) vectors out of Visakhapatnam. This deep-water anti-submarine monitoring matrix transforms India's eastern approaches into an acoustic perimeter, ensuring that any forward Chinese or Pakistani stealth hull attempting to pass through the Malacca Strait corridor is immediately mapped and locked into firing target matrices before gaining operational freedom.

China’s strategy is clear: establish logistical footholds in India’s neighborhood to support the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its allies. The Bay of Bengal offers access to the Malacca Strait, a vital chokepoint for global trade and energy flows, making it a key theatre in the Indo-Pacific competition.

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The Trilateral Entente: Dhaka, Islamabad, and Beijing’s Nexus

Bangladesh’s warming ties with Pakistan since 2024 add another layer of complexity. After decades of strained relations, Dhaka and Islamabad have resumed direct flights, cultural exchanges, and military cooperation. Pakistani warships have docked in Chattogram for the first time since 1971, and reports suggest negotiations for a mutual defense pact.

While Bangladesh continues to balance relations with India, its openness to Pakistan and China complicates India’s strategic calculus. A friendly Bangladesh provides Pakistan with diplomatic cover and potential logistical support for periodic submarine patrols in the Bay of Bengal.

For Dhaka, the intention is to modernize its navy, diversify defense partnerships, and leverage Chinese support for infrastructure and technology. For Islamabad, the intention is to break India’s monopoly in the Bay of Bengal, symbolically avenge the loss of Ghazi, and enhance deterrence by threatening India’s eastern seaboard and critical assets in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. For Beijing, the intention is to encircle India, secure maritime access routes, and establish forward bases for PLAN operations.

The Eastern Shield: Underground Bastions and Blue-Water Dominance

India’s position, however, remains strong. The Eastern Naval Command (ENC), headquartered at Visakhapatnam, oversees the entire Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean. It operates nuclear-powered Arihant-class submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and surveillance assets. The Andaman & Nicobar Command at Port Blair adds depth, enabling India to monitor the Malacca Strait and project power into Southeast Asia.

ENC’s jurisdiction covers 2,600 km of coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 600,000 sq. km. India’s Project Varsha, a secret underground submarine base near Rambilli, enhances survivability and readiness. With superior assets, India can route adversarial intentions through surveillance, deterrence, and alliances with Quad partners. India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, including P-8I Poseidon aircraft, sonar networks, and nuclear submarines, provide a robust counter to Pakistan’s Hangor-class submarines.

This defensive posture is anchored by aggressive infrastructure credit and capital expenditure. To systematically counter the docking of adversarial hulls in Chattogram, the Ministry of Defence has scaled up deployment allocations for the strategic base at Rambilli under Project Varsha. This specialized deep-sea underground pens project ensures that India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) remain fully protected from satellite detection and preemptive kinetic strikes, establishing a bulletproof second-strike capability in the eastern theater.

Symbolic Versus Asymmetric Threat Matrix

Strategically, Pakistan’s submarines pose limited but symbolic harm. They could threaten shipping lanes, Indian naval assets, and energy flows. However, India’s superior surveillance and strike capabilities ensure that any Pakistani attempt to operate in the Bay of Bengal would be met with overwhelming force.

The Bay of Bengal remains India’s front yard, but Pakistan’s re-entry, backed by China and Bangladesh, signals a contested future. India must remain vigilant, expand partnerships, and strengthen its eastern seaboard to ensure dominance. The legacy of PNS Ghazi and Hangor underscores the symbolic and operational importance of submarines in Indo-Pak naval rivalry. The Bay of Bengal is now a contested space where India must leverage its superior naval assets, surveillance, and alliances to route adversarial intentions.

Conclusion: Securing the Indo-Pacific Gateways

In conclusion, Pakistan’s deployment of Chinese-built submarines in the Bay of Bengal, supported by Bangladesh and China, represents a significant shift in regional dynamics. The intentions of each actor are clear: Pakistan seeks to challenge India’s dominance and avenge historical losses; China seeks to encircle India and secure maritime access routes; Bangladesh seeks to modernize its navy and diversify partnerships.

India, through its Eastern Naval Command and Andaman & Nicobar Command, remains well-positioned to counter these moves, but the strategic competition is intensifying. The Bay of Bengal, once a secure backyard, is now a contested theatre in the Indo-Pacific, demanding vigilance, preparedness, and strategic foresight from India.

Mitin Sheth (Shanilohit)

(Senior Columnist with Janmabhoomi Group of Newspapers | Author | Geopolitical Analyst)

 

Disclaimer

This article is based on open-source information from credible defense and geopolitical sources. It is intended for educational and analytical purposes only. Readers are advised to verify details with trusted defense publications and official government statements before drawing conclusions.

"Independently authored work. AI tools were used only for supportive tasks (research, translation, editing, image generation, and grammatical/punctuation correction). Final content and creative direction are the author’s own".

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