Type 039 Submarine is one of the options for Pakistan
Kuala Lumpur, KLS: Since Pakistans Navy is phasing out its obsolete conventional submarines,
purchasing new submarine becomes priority for Pakistan.
Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, Admiral Noman Bashir said the submarine candidates from France and Germany, including China will be evaluated by Pakistan.
According to Pakistani news report, Pakistan Navy is now operating
two Agosta 70 submarines and three Agosta 90B submarines, the
former will be retired and replaced by seven conventional submarines.
Previously, there are reports saying that Pakistan has selected German U-214 or French Marlin submarines but the purchase contract is not inked yet until today.
Pakistan and china are neighbors and we have long standing relationship, we are very close friend, like Malaysia and Pakistan. And Chinese technology is very good, the F22P frigate that we are operating is very well, their technology is as good as other else, Admiral Noman Bashir to KLS in an interview.
So we are phasing out submarines, we need more submarines, so china is one of the options we looking at because china also has the technology like France and Germany.
He said Pakistan not only has one choice but more than one choice in the matter of purchasing new submarine.
We have not evaluated Type-039 yet because our priority is on frigate program, he said.
He also revealed that Pakistan would probably forward request to evaluate Type-039 in near future.