Silent Hunt: Russian ASW Aircraft Secretly Stalks U.S. Nuclear Submarine for 9 Hours Without Detection

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – In a dramatic revelation, it has emerged that a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine was unknowingly “hunted” for a staggering nine hours by a Russian anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft in the waters of Russia’s Far East.

The incident, which took place in March 2023, was kept under wraps until recently.

According to Colonel Andrey Pakhomov, Commander of Russian Naval Aviation, who spoke via the Sputnik news agency, the Russian submarine hunter aircraft “shadowed and tracked” the American vessel relentlessly—without its crew ever realizing they were being monitored.

“For nine straight hours, the American nuclear submarine remained oblivious to the fact that it was being ‘shadowed’ because our ASW aircraft relied entirely on passive detection and tracking methods, ensuring complete stealth,” Pakhomov revealed.

The sophisticated tracking techniques employed by the Russian aircraft meant that the American submarine was not just being followed—it was being studied in real time, its every move scrutinized without a hint of detection.

Pakhomov further disclosed that the U.S. submarine was operating in Russia’s far-eastern waters on an intelligence-gathering mission, seeking to monitor the maneuvers of warships under the command of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

 

The American submarine was so deeply engrossed in its reconnaissance mission that it remained completely oblivious to the fact that it had been detected, tracked, and meticulously monitored by Russian anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

“The U.S. submarine lurked beneath the waves, confident that its presence remained undetected. It had no idea that for nine relentless hours, we were right there, shadowing its every move,” said Colonel Andrey Pakhomov, as quoted by Russian media outlet TASS.

Despite the stunning revelation, the U.S. Department of Defense has yet to issue any response to the claims put forth by Russian authorities.

The dramatic encounter is believed to have unfolded in the waters near Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East, coinciding with a surprise inspection of Pacific Fleet warships conducted by the Commander of the Russian Navy.

Vladivostok, located in the far east of Russia, serves as a base for the country’s Pacific Fleet.

 

The Russian Naval Aviation is believed to deploy a formidable arsenal of long-range reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft, including the fearsome Tupolev Tu-142, known in the West as “Bear-F”—a modified variant of the iconic Tu-95 strategic bomber, reengineered to hunt submarines lurking beneath the depths.

Alongside these aerial hunters, IL-38 “Dolphin” maritime patrol and ASW aircraft also prowl the far-eastern waters of Russia, scanning the vast ocean for any signs of unwelcome intruders.

The “Bear-F” is a dedicated predator, purpose-built for extended-range reconnaissance and submarine-tracking operations, a role it has mastered over decades.

The origins of Russia’s ASW aircraft program date back to the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, when the Soviet Union sought to counter the looming threat of U.S. nuclear-powered submarines, particularly those armed with Polaris nuclear-guided ballistic missiles—deadly weapons capable of striking deep into Soviet territory.

Today, at least eight Tu-142 aircraft are believed to be in active service with the Russian Pacific Fleet, relentlessly patrolling the far-eastern seas, “sniffing out” any signs of U.S. nuclear submarines operating in these contested waters.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA