Pakistan's first upgraded Agosta 90B submarine to start sea trials.

The Turkish defence contractor Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik A.Ş. (STM) is planning to initiate sea trials for the Pakistan Navy’s (PN) first upgraded Agosta 90B submarine – PNS/M Hamza – in early 2020.

Agosta 90B submarine – PNS/M Hamza (Picture source: Haselsan)

In a recent interview with Defence Turkey, STM’s General Manager, Murat İkinci, said that the company plans to conclude the PNS/M Hamza’s tests and deliver the submarine to the PN by the end of 2020. The second upgraded submarine, PNS/M Khalid, is scheduled to follow in 2021.

Pakistan hasn't yet signed the contract for the upgrade of the third submarine, though STM expects it will conclude to a deal in this regard soon.

In 2016, Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade (STM) won the modernization tender in a competition with a $350 million contract against a French company DCNS Shipyard (Naval Group) that builds submarines.

The project was important because it was the first time a Turkish company has been chosen as the main contractor for an overseas submarine project. This project has paved the way for the export of undersea design and engineering services for the first time.

The modernisation works included the replacement of the submarine’s entire sonar suite, periscope systems, command and control system, radar and electronic support systems. HAVELSAN- and ASELSAN-made systems will also be exported as part of the project.

The submarine by virtue of its propulsion, weapons and sensor outfit, equipment efficiency, stealth and well-knitted crew is a platform to reckon with and is fully capable of undertaking a variety of missions.