China confirms export of 8 submarines to Pakistan.
BEIJING: China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) has confirmed to export eight submarines to Pakistan, according to a leading Chinese daily.
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Reuters reported back in April that Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif approved the deal and called the deal could be "one of China's
largest overseas weapons sales once it is signed".
The deal could cost between 4 billion to 5 billion USD,
Reuters quoted a Financial Times report.
Four of the eight submarines will reportedly be built at
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) while the remaining four
submarines will be built in China.
When being asked about the deal last year, China's Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said:" China and Pakistan are neighbors
of traditional friendship with close cooperation in various fields. The normal
cooperation between the two sides in the field of military industry and trade
is in line with their respective international commitment".
China is to provide the Pakistan Navy with eight modified
diesel-electric attack submarines by 2028.
Pakistan and China has increased the military cooperation
immensely over the years. The fighter jet JF-17 thunder is one of the major examples
of this collaboration.
The Pakistan Navy is in middle of upgrading its undersea
warfare capabilities. In June, Turkish state-owned defense contractor STM won a
contract for the mid-life upgrade of three Agosta 90B-class (aka Khalid-class)
diesel-electric attack submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion
systems.
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