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Pakistan Navy Plans Fleet Expansion to 50 Ships to Enhance Maritime Security and Trade

DEFENSE

Pakistan's Navy plans to expand its fleet to 50 ships as part of a long-term naval development program aimed at securing sea lines of communication and countering India's naval capabilities. The expansion includes 20 major surface combatants, such as corvettes and destroyers, and 30 additional vessels like missile boats and patrol craft.

This strategy addresses regional naval developments and aims to maintain credible combat capability without directly competing in numbers with India. The fleet will incorporate high-end combatants alongside lighter vessels to ensure effective defense and long-range strike capacity.

Pakistan's maritime trade, which is approximately 90 percent sea-based, underscores the importance of port security. Additionally, Pakistan is acquiring Type 39B submarines from China to enhance its undersea warfare capabilities. The plan, outlined in a 2021 address by former Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, establishes the direction for future Navy modernization.

Pakistan Navy Plans Fleet Expansion to 50 Ships to Enhance Maritime Security and Trade
Jan 22, 2026, 6:07 AM

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