PNS Khalid

PNS/M Khalid (S-137), is a diesel-electric fast-attack submarine equipped with an air–independent propulsion system and the lead ship of her class active since her commissioning in the Navy in 1999.[4][5]

PNS Khalid (S137)
History
Pakistan
Name: PNS Khalid
Namesake: Khālid
Ordered: 21 September 1994
Builder: DCNS, Cherbourg in France
Laid down: 15 July 1995
Launched: 18 December 1998
Commissioned: 6 September 1999[1]
In service: 1999–present
Homeport: Jinnah Naval Base
Identification: S137
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Agosta 90Bravo/Khalid-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,570 long tons (1,595 t) (Surface)
  • 2,050 long tons (2,083 t) (Submerged)
Length: 249.4 ft (76.0 m)[2]
Beam: 22.3 ft (6.8 m)
Draught:
  • 27.0 ft (8.2 m)
  • 26.7 ft (8.1 m)
Installed power: 2 × Jeumont-Schneider alternators producing: 4,600 hp (3,400 kW).
Propulsion: 2 × SEMT Pielstick 16 PA4 V 185 VG AIP MESMA: 3,600 hp (2,700 kW), 1 × shaft.
Speed:
  • 12.0 knots (22.2 km/h; 13.8 mph) (surface)
  • 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) (submerged)
Range: 8,500 miles (13,700 km) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Endurance: 150 Days
Test depth: 1,968.5 ft (600 m)[3][2]
Complement: 36 (7 officers, 29 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Towed array sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:

Based on the Agosta 90Bravo/Khalid-class design, she was the first submarine that was first designed and constructed in Cherbourg in France by the French contractor, the DCNS for the Pakistan Navy, as part of contract for three Agosta–90B submarines signed on 21 September 1994.[1][2] Khalid, according to the Pakistan Navy, is the forerunner of her class and capable for her long range missions in the Indian Ocean.[1]

Construction and design development

After the series of complicated and lengthy negotiations between the governments of Pakistan and France, the Pakistan Navy placed an order for the submarine in September 1992 with confirmation being approved on 21 September 1994.[6] She was designed and constructed by the French contractor, DCNS, in Cherbourg in France and was laid down on 15 July 1995.:530[7]

Her launch took place on 18 December 1998:530[8] in Cherbourg, and underwent through several sea trials by the French Navy before being sent to Karachi, Sindh in Pakistan.[9] The hull is made of 80 HLES high elasticity steel, a similar material used in Rubis-class nuclear submarines, allowing the submarine to give greater depth in sea.[5] Furthermore, the automatic control system and automation further reduces the need of crew, restricted her military staff to 36 personnel.[5]

On 6 September 1999, she was commissioned in the Navy with Chairman joint chiefs, General Pervez Musharraf, witnessing the commissioning ceremony and presented the submarine with her colors.[10]

She was named after Khalid ibn al-Walid, one of the most respected and successful military commanders of Islam.[11] About her commissioning, the Indian naval chief, Admiral Sushil Kumar, reportedly quoted that the "Khalid had given an edge over India."[12]

The commissioning of the submarine was a watershed event in the country with the political elite giving credit to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.[12] Khalid was officially inducted in the Navy on 21 December 1999.[13]

In 2011, she underwent with overhauling, and retrofitted her propulsion system with the air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems by the technicians at the KESW Ltd.[4]

On 6 March 2018, the DCNS, its original builder, lost the bidding competition with the Turkish firm, STM, for its refitting and upgradation of her weapon system, combat control system, missile rooms, and periscope upgrades, and is slated to return to her active service in 2020 after returning from Turkey.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Agosta 90b". Pakistan Navy. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  2. "SSK Agosta 90B Class Submarine" (html). Naval Technology. New York, USA. Retrieved 21 December 2018. The Agosta 90B’s performance remains the same in all other respects, except that the length increases from 67m to 76m and submerged displacement from 1,760t to 2,050t.
  3. Jane, Frederick Thomas (1999). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 637. ISBN 9780710619051.
  4. Syed, Baqir Sajjad (7 October 2015). "China to build four submarines in Karachi". Dawn. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  5. Shabbir, Usman (1 June 2003). "PakDef Military Consortium AGOSTA 90B". PakDef Military Consortium. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  6. Waters, Conrad (2011). "Pakistan Navy". Seaforth World Naval Review 2012. Barnsley, Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 9781783466320. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  7. Wertheim, Eric (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. Naval Institute Press. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  8. Jane, Frederick Thomas (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. ISBN 9780710628886.
  9. Sehgal, Major Ikram (1 January 2000). "SSK Agosta 90B Class". Defence Journal. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  10. Lodhi, SFS (1 January 2000). "An Agosta Submarine for Pakistan". Defence Journal. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  11. Bokhari, EAS (20 February 2000). "Agosta 90-B: A Quantum Jump in Submarine Assets". Defence Journal. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  12. "Benazir claims credit for Agosta sub". Dawn. 11 September 1999. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  13. "Submarine Force History". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  14. Gady, Franz-Stefan (6 March 2018). "Turkey to Upgrade Pakistan Navy'a attack sub". The Diplomat. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
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