Russian Navy Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Ufa (B-588) is now operating in the East China Sea following a passage between Japanese islands in the southwest region in order to exit the Philippine Sea and enter the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, People’s Liberation Army Navy frigates sailed past Japan to enter the East China Sea over the weekend.
On Tuesday, Japan’s Joint Staff Office said Ufa and rescue tug Alatau were sighted sailing northeast in an area 31 miles south of Yonaguni Island and subsequently entered the East China Sea, the release noted that this was the first time that a Russian Navy submarine had been confirmed to have traveled in the waters between Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet oiler JS Hamana (AOE-424) and a P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing 5 based at Naha Air Base on Okinawa shadowed the Russian submarine and tug, according to the release.
Ufa, an improved version of the Kilo class submarine was commissioned in November 2022 with the submarine planned to be assigned to the Russian Pacific Fleet. Following a shakedown period and crew training in the Baltic Sea, Ufa sailed to the Mediterranean and arrived in December 2023 where it carried out operations in support of Russian forces in Syria, and subsequently departed the region in late September-early October to take up its assignment to the Russian Pacific Fleet.
The improved Kilos feature cruise missile capability in the form of submarine-launched Kalibr cruise missiles and three improved Kilos are already operating as part of the Russian Pacific Fleet, RFS Petropavlosk-Kamchatsky (B-274), RFS Magadan (B-602) and RFS Volkov (B-603).
Ufa together with Alatau made a port visit to Kochi, India in October and to Surabaya, Indonesia from Nov.7 – 10 and to Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Kota Kinabalu Naval Base, home to RMN Eastern Fleet Command and RMN Submarine Command, from Nov. 20 to 23. A Russian embassy social media post stated that the submarine crew was given a tour of the RMN submarine training facilities there along with conducting discussions with their RMN counterparts on future joint submarine engagement activities. Following the visit, Ufa and Alatau conducted a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with one of the RNM’s two Scorpene-class submarines and an RMN surface ship.
On Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a social media post stated that on Thursday, Ufa was sighted 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro. The AFP said that Philippine Navy frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) established radio communications with the submarine, which confirmed its identity, crew complement, and navigational intent and that Ufa stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia, “Philippine naval forces, including FF150, escorted and monitored operations to ensure the submarine’s compliance with maritime regulations within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone,” stated the post.
Meanwhile news agency Reuters on Tuesday reported, citing Taiwan security sources, that a group of Russian ships comprising of three frigates and a tanker on Monday had been 24 nautical miles off Taiwan’s southeastern coasts and conducted joint simulated attacks on opposing ships and aircraft with a PLAN destroyer nearby. The Russian Navy Pacific Fleet surface action group comprising of corvettes RFS Gromkiy (335), RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339) and RFS Rezkiy (343) and fleet oiler Pechenga set out from Vladivostok on Oct. 5 for an Asia Pacific deployment which has seen the group conduct drills with the Myanmar Navy in late October and the Indonesian Navy in early November along with port visits to Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand.
Earlier on Monday, Japan’s JSO issued a release stating that on Friday, PLAN frigate CNS Zaozhuang (542) was sighted heading southwest in an area 18 miles northeast of Tsushima and from Friday to Saturday, the PLAN frigate had sailed southwest through the Tsushima Strait toward the East China Sea. The release noted that Zaozhuang had earlier been sighted on Thursday sailing northeast through the Tsushima Strait. A JMSDF P-1 MPA from Fleet Air Wing 1 based at JMSDF Kanoya Air Base on the main island of Kyushu shadowed the PLAN frigate, according to the release.
The release also stated that at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, PLAN frigate CNS Yiyang (548) was sighted sailing northwest in an area 80 miles east of Miyako Island and subsequently the PLAN frigate sailed northwest in the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island to enter the East China Sea. The release noted that Yiyang sailed southeast in the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island on Thursday. JMSDF minesweeper JS Shishijima (MSC-691) shadowed the PLAN frigate, according to the release.
On Friday, Australia’s Department of Defence announced in a release that two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon MPA to conduct patrols in the North Indian Ocean and South China Sea under Operation Gateway.
Operation Gateway began in 1980 with the RAAF deploying aircraft to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Butterworth to conduct surveillance operations and currently sees Australia deploying a number of RAAF P-8A aircraft to RMAF Butterworth each year, “Operation Gateway forms part of Australia’s contribution to the preservation of regional security and stability in Southeast Asia. We continue our cooperative operations between Australia and Malaysia, which provides significant benefit to both our nations.”, said Vice Adm. Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations in the release. The release stated that the maritime domain awareness operation sees personnel from RAAF Base Edinburgh 92 Wing operating and maintaining the No. 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon MPA.
