# Pakistan’s new Chinese submarine test-fires missile, India’s P-75I project delayed 2026-09-27T18:01:27+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Pakistan announced on Sunday that its newly inducted Chinese-built Hangor-class submarine, PNS/M Hangor, successfully test-fired an anti-ship cruise missile in the North Arabian Sea. The Pakistani military's media wing ISPR said the missile accurately engaged a long-range target, witnessed by Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Indian defence sources identified the missile as the Chinese YJ-18, assessed to be derived from the Russian Klub family, with a claimed strike range of up to 540 km. The test comes 12 days after a collision between a Pakistani naval vessel and an Indian warship on September 15. India has protested, saying PNS Hunain approached at high speed and manoeuvred unsafely, Islamabad disputed this account. The Hangor submarine is fitted with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), allowing it to stay submerged for up to three weeks, making it stealthier. It is the first of eight such submarines Pakistan is acquiring from China. India currently has no operational AIP-equipped submarines. The Navy's Project-75 (India) for six AIP submarines, to be built by Mazagon Dock with German firm TKMS at a cost of over Rs 70,000 crore, has finance ministry clearance but awaits final Cabinet Committee on Security approval. Even after contract signing, the first submarine would arrive in seven years. India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, INS Arihant, INS Arighaat, and INS Aridaman, provide a strategic edge Pakistan lacks. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The New Indian Express frames the story around India's delay, leading with the P-75(I) project hanging fire and emphasising that India has no AIP submarines while Pakistan inducts eight. It also includes the recent naval collision as context. Deccan Herald's brief report sticks to the weapon firing event itself, quoting the Pakistani navy chief on deterrence, without mentioning India's project delays or the collision. The balanced reading is that Pakistan's submarine capability is growing steadily, but India retains a strategic advantage through its nuclear submarines. The next milestone is the CCS decision on Project-75(I), which will determine how quickly India can close the conventional gap. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com (government critical) Leads with India's P-75I project delay, emphasises no Indian AIP subs. - deccanherald.com (neutral report) Straight report on Pakistan's weapon firing, no mention of India. Tags: AIP, China, Hangor submarine, Indian Navy, Pakistan navy, Project-75I Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/pakistans-new-chinese-submarine-test-fires-missile-indias-p-75i-project-delayed/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/pakistans-new-chinese-submarine-test-fires-missile-indias-p-75i-project-delayed/#story-in-brief