Pakistan Moves Forward With large-scale Naval Expansion Plan

Pakistan’s Navy confirmed plans to expand its fleet to 50 ships during a 2021 address by then–Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, formally outlining one of the country’s largest long-term naval force development programs, according to defense analyst Zarvan Ali.

Abbasi stated that the Pakistan Navy intends to induct 20 major surface combatants, including corvettes, frigates, and destroyers, alongside 30 additional vessels such as missile boats, patrol craft, and support ships.

The plan was presented as a structured response to regional naval developments and Pakistan’s maritime security requirements.

The expansion strategy is designed to avoid direct numerical competition with the Indian Navy while still maintaining credible combat capability. Instead of matching ship numbers, Pakistan’s approach centers on fielding platforms with sufficient defensive coverage and long-range strike capacity to protect maritime routes and coastal infrastructure.

India has been inducting modern destroyers and frigates equipped with vertical launch systems capable of carrying both air-defense and long-range cruise missiles. These systems allow Indian warships to conduct strikes at extended distances while remaining under layered air-defense coverage, creating a more complex operational environment in the region.

Abbasi’s remarks outlined a fleet structure built around different operational tiers, combining high-end surface combatants with lighter missile-armed vessels. The intent, as described in the document, is to ensure that Pakistan’s Navy can defend its maritime area of responsibility while retaining the ability to hold hostile naval forces at risk from stand-off distances.

The fleet expansion plan also reflects Pakistan’s dependence on maritime trade. The document states that approximately 90 percent of Pakistan’s trade moves by sea, making port security and uninterrupted shipping essential to national economic stability. This requirement has gained added importance with the development of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which increases the strategic value of Pakistan’s ports and coastal routes.

In parallel with surface fleet development, Pakistan is acquiring Type 39B submarines from China, continuing a long-standing focus on undersea warfare as a core element of its naval posture. These submarines are intended to complement surface forces and provide an additional layer of deterrence in the Arabian Sea, according to the document.

While the 2021 address did not include delivery timelines or contract values, it formally established the direction of Pakistan Navy modernization and remains the clearest official confirmation of the service’s long-term fleet objectives. The plan is structured around fiscal constraints while seeking to prevent a repeat of past maritime vulnerabilities, including port blockades experienced during earlier conflicts.