This week, one of the Russian Navy’s new Kilo II attack submarines arrived in Indonesia as part of its transit to the Pacific, escorted by the rescue tug Alatau. Specifically, the vessel named Ufa reached the port of Surabaya, where it will engage in various activities, from conducting protocol events with local authorities to participating in sports competitions alongside Indonesian Navy personnel.
It’s worth noting that the submarine departed from the Baltic Sea to join the Pacific Fleet, marking the fourth of six Project 636.3 class submarines (as it is also called) planned for operations in this strategically significant region for Russia. This fleet has already received the Emperor Alexander III (Borei-A class) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and the Krasnoyarsk, a conventionally powered attack submarine. According to Russian media sources, these third-generation diesel-electric submarines are known for their substantial stealth capabilities.
Delving into specifics, the Ufa is a submarine that was commissioned in 2022 and has since been operating in the Baltic Sea as part of its extended trial and preparation period before setting off on its current voyage to its new base. During this journey, it also visited the port of Kochi in India. The vessel displaces a maximum of 3,900 tons—some of that being its modern Kalibr-PL missile arsenal—and measures 74 meters in length. According to the manufacturer, the Ufa can reach maximum distances of up to 7,500 nautical miles and dive to depths of up to 300 meters.
Finally, it should be noted that this is not the only recent visit by Russian Navy assets to the port of Surabaya; a flotilla of three ships also stopped there ahead of the “Orruda 2024” exercise. This marks the first joint exercise between the Russian and Indonesian Navies, featuring Russia’s Gromky, Rezky, and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov corvettes, alongside Indonesia’s Frans Kaisiepo corvette and I Gusti Ngurah Rai frigate.
Image credits: @RusEmbJakarta and @TNIAL on X.
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