The SC
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I do not think so. The Chinese SSKs are among the best in the world according to many respected Western analysts. Not only that, they have unique features that other SSK comprising the U-214 and 216 lack, like the tested and proven All electric propulsion systems with no diesel engines at all and a most modern AIP based on the Stirling Cycle model developed in China.I think PN is not confident that Chinese Subs are as good as German Type 216 / Type-214 or Spanish S-80 class or even its Agosta 90's AIP technology. It is just a choice out of compulsion. It prefers Quality over Quantity.
China has historic problems with AIP technology and Submarines construction, especially Weapon integration need further development....PN order of 6 Chinese S20, or the upgraded S26 with AIP was sufficient to fill numbers gap.
If one can think how powerful and efficient the old Kilo class (the black hole as it is known in the West) were/still are. He can easily find out that these Subs are at least twice more efficient... and based on totally modern technologies.
If one also knows how picky the Pak navy is, he will have a good idea of these subs and not a mere choice of compulsion!
Weapons integration is going through trials for SLBM with 1700 km . the ones with 700km range SLCM have already been tested and integrated. These possibilities were not available in the German submarines, neither was ToT.
The fact that a Chinese SSK popped up from nowhere in the middle of the US fleet during manoeuvres in SCS, tells quite a lot about the Chinese SSKs. The US was so intrigued that it requested a visit to see this Submarine and a team of USN headed by an admiral were granted permission from China to visit it, showing how confident the Chinese were concerning the uniqueness of their technologies.
Pakistan is thus getting the best deal ever, since even the Subs signatures are not known either.