Pakistan Navy’s first upgraded Agosta 90B submarine – PNS/M Hamza – will undergo sea trials in early 2020, the Turkish contractor, Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik A.Ş. (STM) General Manager, Murat İkinci revealed in an interview recently. The advanced submarine will be delivered to Pakistan Navy after the successful conclusion of tests.
PNS/M Khalid, a second upgraded submarine, will be delivered to Pakistan in 2021, however, a deal for the up-gradation of a third submarine is yet to be finalized between the two parties. The upgraded submarines are capable of undertaking a variety of missions due to advanced weaponry and qualities including stealth mode, equipment efficiency, weapons and sensor outfit, and propulsion.
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Pakistan Navy had awarded a $350 million contract to Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade in 2016, to modernize two Agosta 90B submarines, including replacement of the following components:
- Sonar suite
- Periscope systems
- Command and control system
- Radar
- Electronic support systems
HAVELSAN and ASELSAN made systems will also be used in the upgraded submarines for greater efficiency.
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The Turkish contractor was chosen over a French company, DCNS Shipyard (Naval Group) for the first time ever for an overseas project.
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