This week, the Russian Navy’s nuclear submarine Ufa completed its official visit to China on its way to joining the Pacific Fleet, escorted by the rescue tug Alatau throughout its journey. Notably, both Russian naval assets visited the Chinese port of Qingdao, where various exchanges took place between personnel from the navies of both countries, followed by sightseeing tours of the city.
It is worth recalling that Ufa’s journey began in the Baltic Sea en route to its final station at the Russian Pacific Fleet base in Vladivostok. There, it will be stationed as the fourth in a group of six submarines of its class (Project 636.3) to operate from the base. The facility also hosts the nuclear-powered submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk, which arrived in September from the Northern Fleet.
In terms of its known specifications, Ufa is a submarine with a length of 74 meters and a displacement of approximately 3,900 tons, noted for its stealth capabilities. Additionally, the vessel is capable of withstanding depths of up to 300 meters and has an estimated range of 7,500 nautical miles. It is armed with modern Kalibr-PL missiles as its primary weaponry. Launched in 2022, the submarine underwent an extensive period of testing in the Baltic before its transfer to the Pacific.
Finally, it should be noted that the Chinese port of Qingdao has not only welcomed the Ufa (which also visited Indonesia and India as part of its journey) representing the Russian Navy in recent days. The port also hosted a Russian naval group comprising the corvettes Gromky, Rezky, and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov. In both instances, the transit of these Russian platforms through southeastern Chinese waters was closely monitored by elements of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, with the former being detected south of Yonaguni Island by a P-3C Orion earlier this month.
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