Pakistan`s Navy Khalid class (French Agosta class) At the beginning of the 90s the Pakistan`s Navy Daphne class boats were approaching the end of their useful lives, and the competition to replace them has been fierce; the finalists reportedly being designs from China, France and Sweden, joined at the last minute by an unsolicited offer of the four redundant Upholder class boats from the UK. The result, however, was a victory for France`s DCN International with the order for three Agosta 90Bs. Pakistan Navy required a design which would be thoroughly modern, but which will also combine tactical effectiveness with both low purchase cost and low cost of ownership. The Pakistan Navy found the Agosta 90B very attractive, since they are familiar with the design and still have a large amount of spares for the original Agosta class boats, so an order for the Agosta 90B enables them to reduce capital expenditure and devote more money to the submarine systems. The first of the class, PNS Khalid was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in 2001. Specificationes, Khalid class (Agosta 90B class): Attack submarine, diesel powered. Double-hull construction with all fuel and ballast tanks outside the pressure hull. Displacement (srf/sub tons): 1,510/1,760              Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 221`7*22`3*17`7 Propulsion: diesel-electric 2*1,800hp SEMT-Pielstick 16 PA4 V 185 VG diesels, 2*Jeumont-Schneider alternators 1,7MV, 1*2,992hp Jeumont electric motor, 1*32hp cruising motor, 1 shaft Speed (srf/sub knots): 12/20 Range (srf/sub n/miles@knots): snorting 8,500@9/350@3.5 Diving depth (feet): 985 Complement: 7 officers 29 enlisted Missile: 4*Aerospatiale SM-39 Exocet sub-launched anti-ship missiles Torpedo: 4*21" (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes, total of 20 torpedoes or missiles Mines: Stonefish- in lieu of torpedoes Armament: none Construction: A total of 3 boats were built- head of class Khalid, S-137, by the French DCN Shipyard, commissioned in 1999, the second Saad, S-138, parts sent to Pakistan and completion of built was done by PN Dockyard, Karachi, commissioned in Feb` 2002. The last of class, Ghazi, S-139, built by PN Dockyard, Karachi, commissioned in Dec` 2002- planned to have a 200kW MESMA liquid oxygen AIP (Air Independence Propulsion) system which would extend the hull by some 9.0 meters. The AIP system would quadruple dived performance at 4 Kt.   Back to History Index   Image Country Year Description Pakistan 2003 Khalid class (Agosta 90B class) Pakistan 2003 Khalid class (Agosta 90B class)