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Pakistan
and
DCN France signed
a contract for 3 Agosta 90-B submarines
on 21 September 1994. Under the
contract, one submarine was to be built
in France while the remaining two were
to be built in Pakistan. The first unit,
"KHALID," was built in Cherbourg and
delivered to Pakistan in 1999-2000. The
sections of second unit, "SAAD," were
constructed in Cherbourg and sent to
Karachi for modular assembly in 2000.
The third unit of the series, "HAMZA,"
has been manufactured entirely in
Karachi.
PNS/M KHALID:
Pakistan Navy Submarine KHALID is
the first of the Agosta-90B class
submarines acquired by the Pakistan
Navy from France. It was commissioned
on 6 September 1999 and inducted into
PN Fleet on 21 December 1999. The
Agosta-90B is an improved version
of the sea proven Agosta 70.
PNS/M KHALID encompasses all qualities
to strike terror in the hearts of
enemies. The submarine has deep diving
capabilities and can undertake patrol
of more than 60 days. She also posses
state of the art Combat System integrating
all available sensors to launch multi-purpose
wire guided torpedoes and sub launched
missiles. The outfit of submarine
systems, weapons and sensors make
her unique and unprecedented amongst
the existing new generation conventional
submarines.
PNS/M KHALID is named after Hazrat
KHALID BIN WALID, the great Fighter
and one of the most reputed military
Commanders of Islam. Agosta submarines
are currently in service with three
navies. PNS/M KHALID incorporate improvements
based on the experience gained by
the French Navy and new advances in
endurance, acoustic discretion, propulsion
and diving capability. Its fully integrated
COMBAT system enables the command
to quickly evaluate the tactical situation
and decide on an appropriate response.
The submarine is capable to launch
multipurpose torpedoes and submarine
launched anti-ship missiles. PNS/M
KHALID is first Agosta-90B class submarine
built for Pakistan Navy by DCN Cherbourg.
As per contract, this submarine was
completely built in France. The submarine
construction was completed on 8 Aug
98. Sea trials were conducted at Cherbourg,
Brest and Toulon. PNS/M KHALID is
the fore-runner of Pakistan Navy,
capable of undertaking a wide variety
of missions, far and deep from home
waters.
PNS/M SAAD:
SAAD was the 1st Agosta-90B class
submarine built at Pakistan Navy Dockyard
under the Transfer of Technology (TOT)
agreement with France. She was commissioned
in Pakistan Navy on 13 December 2003.
Then Ag Captain M Tariq Iqbal Sharafi
PN (P.No. 2599) was designated at
1st Commanding Officer of PN Submarine
SAAD. The submarine is capable of
operating at deeper depths and can
under take patrol of more than 60
days. These also posses the state
of the art Combat System integrating
all available sensors to launch multi
purpose wire guided torpedoes and
sub launched missiles. The outfit
of submarine systems, weapons and
sensors make it unique and unprecedented
amongst the existing generation conventional
submarines.
PNS/M HAMZA: PNS/M
HAMZA, the third Agosta 90B submarine
that has been completely built at
Pakistan Navy Dockyard was
commissioned into Pakistan Navy Fleet
on 26 September 2008. The submarine
was launched in August 2006 by Begum
Sehba Musharraf (wife of then
president General (Rtd) Pervez
Musharraf). The submarine is named
after Hazrat Hamza who is one of the
uncles of the last Prophet Hazrat
Muhammad (PBUH). HAMZA was known as
Lion of God and Lion of Heaven for his
bravery.
PN Submarine
HAMZA is the first submarine that has
been fitted with MESMA Air Independent
Propulsion (AIP) system. The
submarine has been indigenously
constructed under transfer of
technology programme by DCNS of
France. Pakistan is the first country
to use MESMA AIP system onboard a
submarine.
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