Philippines Detects Russian Submarine Operating in South China Sea Near Its Waters

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – In a rare occurrence, a Russian attack submarine was detected surfaced in the western South China Sea near the Philippines, in waters referred to by Manila as the West Philippine Sea.

Sources told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Russian submarine was observed traveling on the water’s surface last week.

According to one source, the submarine, identified as the Ufa from the Kilo II-class of diesel-electric submarines, was first detected on November 28, approximately 148 kilometers (80 nautical miles) west of Occidental Mindoro.

It reportedly sailed from Malaysian waters, the source added.

The Philippine Navy responded promptly by deploying a reconnaissance aircraft and a warship to track the surfaced submarine.

Throughout its journey northward through the South China Sea, the submarine remained surfaced and was closely monitored by the Philippine Navy’s warship, BRP Jose Rizal.

Last week, media reports indicated that the Russian submarine and its accompanying tugboat, Alatau, were operating in the South China Sea after making a stop at Malaysia’s Kota Kinabalu Naval Base on November 23.

Prior to this, the submarine had participated in joint exercises with the Indonesian Navy.

The Ufa, a Kilo II-class submarine, is believed to be en route to its home base at the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet headquarters in Kamchatka, in Russia’s Far East.

The submarine is part of Russia’s Project 636.3, a fleet of six attack submarines commissioned in late 2022, which have since been redeployed from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific.

The Kilo-class (improved Kilo) diesel-electric submarine features several modern upgrades and capabilities.

Often described as one of Russia’s quietest submarines, the Ufa has earned the nickname “Black Hole” within naval circles.

The redeployment of the Ufa and other Project 636.3 submarines to the Pacific underscores Russia’s intent to enhance its underwater capabilities in the region.

Russian news agency Izvestia noted that the operation of the Ufa in the Asia-Pacific is significant, given the region’s growing importance as a theater for great power confrontation, particularly between China and the United States.

The agency further emphasized that the presence of Project 636.3 submarines is essential to maintaining the strength and operational readiness of Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

Additionally, the deployment is seen as part of Russia’s strategy to bolster its ally China in countering the underwater capabilities of the United States and its partners in the Indo-Pacific. —DSA