As part of its deployment in Southeast Asia, the Russian Navy’s new Kilo II-class attack submarine conducted exercises with the Malaysian Navy in the South China Sea. This activity was classified as a PASSEX exercise, according to the official statement from the Russian Navy. Specifically, it was the Ufa submarine, which is currently making a journey from the Baltic Sea, where it operated since its commissioning in 2022, to join its new base in the Pacific Fleet.
The Russian Navy provided further details on the exercise, stating: “The diesel-electric submarine Ufa, escorted by the Pacific Fleet’s rescue tugboat Alatau, completed its official visit to the port of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and conducted PASSEX naval exercises with Malaysian Navy ships in the South China Sea.”
As was the case during its visit to Surabaya (Indonesia), the Ufa‘s crew had the opportunity to hold meetings with Malaysian naval authorities to strengthen cooperation ties. Additionally, sporting competitions between personnel from both nations were held, and the crew took advantage of the visit to explore the port area, which had never before hosted a Russian Navy ship.
In terms of technical specifications, the Ufa is a third-generation diesel-electric-powered submarine, the fourth of six units commissioned in the Kilo II class. The submarine displaces approximately 3,900 tons, measures 74 meters in length, and has an estimated range of 7,500 nautical miles, with the capability to dive to depths of 300 meters. In terms of armament, the Ufa stands out because it is equipped with modern Kalibr-PL cruise missiles and a wide range of torpedoes, including the 53-65 ASuW and the TEST 71/76 ASW.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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