China has handed over the third of eight new Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, bolstering Islamabad’s naval strength as Beijing expands its footprint in the Indian Ocean, a region India considers its strategic backyard. The submarine was launched on Thursday in Wuhan, Hubei province, state-run Global Times reported. The second vessel was delivered in March. Pakistan has also received four modern Chinese frigates in recent years, alongside Beijing’s development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. Pakistan’s Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Abdul Samad said the Hangor-class submarines, equipped with advanced sensors and weaponry, would help maintain “regional power equilibrium” and ensure maritime security, PTI reported. China supplied more than 81% of Pakistan’s arms in the past five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Key purchases include the Rizwan spy ship, over 600 VT-4 battle tanks, and 36 J-10CE fighter jets, which Pakistan has already used in conflicts with India. Chinese experts describe the Hangor-class as a stealthy platform with long endurance, high mobility, and powerful underwater combat capabilities.