【Foreign Media: China and Russia Conduct First Public Joint Submarine Operation】
According to a report from Defense Security Asia, published on July 12, 2026: After the sea-phase exercise concluded on July 11, publicly released footage showed a Chinese submarine sailing alongside Russia’s “Ufa” submarine. This deliberate increase in transparency directly reshapes external assessments of joint underwater threat potential in the Indo-Pacific region. This marks the first officially documented synchronized submarine operation between the two navies, immediately elevating the benchmark for evaluating bilateral naval integration.
Military experts point out that this move demonstrates an extraordinary level of mutual trust beyond ordinary standards—submarine acoustic signatures have long been among the most tightly guarded core capabilities in any navy. Close-range collaborative operations at sea necessarily involve the exchange of communication protocols and tactical coordination methods, accelerating the maturation of joint undersea warfare doctrines and significantly increasing the difficulty for adversaries in planning anti-submarine operations. The deliberate public release of submarine coordination footage serves as a strategic signal, aiming to reshape adversaries’ perceptions regarding underwater access rights and force deployments in critical maritime chokepoints.
This growing familiarity in the undersea domain will have direct implications for future anti-submarine posture: tactical synergy will reduce friction during broader Pacific-wide joint patrols and rescue missions. The public display of submarines operating side by side is a visible indicator of partnership depth, compelling regional military planners to recalibrate priorities for underwater surveillance and response timelines.
—— Timeline and Phased Implementation of "Maritime Joint-2026" Exercise
On July 5, 2026, the Russian task force arrived in Qingdao, marking the beginning of the deployment phase and establishing a hybrid command structure adapted to differing naval cultures. On July 6, the exercise officially commenced, transitioning into port-based planning and coordination, aligning communication architectures and operational procedures between the Chinese and Russian navies. Port-side exchanges conducted around July 8–9, including ship visits and professional seminars, further refined logistical support plans required for the sustained maritime operations of eight surface vessels and two submarines.
Starting July 9, the exercise entered its live-force phase, focusing on testing the ability of the mixed task force to maintain formation integrity while conducting multi-domain missions in the Yellow Sea. By July 11, after completing drills involving air defense, anti-surface warfare, and submarine rescue operations, the sea-phase exercise concluded, validating the command and control links established during the port phase. Following the exercise, both sides conducted joint patrols in relevant waters of the Western Pacific, extending the operational reach of their combined forces and demonstrating their capability to sustain presence beyond the exercise area.
—— Composition and Force Deployment of Participating Naval Task Groups
The Russian Pacific Fleet deployed the missile cruiser "Varyag" as flagship, supported by the frigate "Ostry" and the upgraded Kilo-class submarine "Ufa," providing long-range strike and underwater combat options. The submarine rescue vessel "Igor Belousov" directly supported joint search-and-rescue drills through its specialized deep-diving rescue vehicles.
China’s naval contingent included the Type 055 destroyer "Anshan" and the Type 052D destroyer "Kaifeng," offering advanced air defense and anti-surface warfare capabilities to the mixed task group. The Type 054A frigate "Wuhu" and one conventional submarine formed China’s surface and underwater components, while the Type 903A supply ship "Kekexili Lake" met joint logistical needs. The Type 926 submarine rescue vessel "Yangchenghu" worked in coordination with its Russian counterpart, achieving joint procedures for locating and rescuing simulated crew members from a disabled submarine.
Both sides’ helicopters and marine infantry personnel were integrated into the task group, providing built-in reconnaissance and boarding capabilities, enhancing situational awareness within the operational zone. The final mixed task group configuration indicates that both militaries possess organizational flexibility to conduct operations in complex maritime scenarios under a unified command structure.
—— Breakthroughs in Submarine Coordination and Technical Mechanisms
The publicly released footage on July 11 shows the Chinese submarine sailing directly alongside Russia’s “Ufa” submarine—this is the first publicly documented instance of such close proximity between the two navies’ submarine forces during live-force exercises. This visual confirmation of side-by-side operations immediately raises external assessments of underwater interoperability, as it reveals both sides’ willingness to expose sensitive platform characteristics in a controlled yet observable environment. Submarine acoustic signatures are classified as highly sensitive assets; their controlled disclosure during joint operations requires prior agreement on electromagnetic radiation control measures and mutual identification protocols.
Tactical coordination methods shared to enable safe close-range operations—including standardized signaling procedures and anti-collision geometric rules—both reduce collision risks and preserve tactical flexibility. The exercise incorporated coordinated submarine rescue drills, using deep-diving rescue vehicles to locate and transfer simulated survivors from a disabled submarine under joint command. Such integrated rescue operations demand precise position data exchange and a common operational picture, previously existing only in bilateral staff talks rather than actual sea-based execution.
This milestone advances the level of Sino-Russian underwater cooperation, pushing collaboration from conceptual planning into observable, measurable, and demonstrably safe and effective tactical practice. The public dissemination of these visual materials serves not only as a demonstration of capability but also as a trust-building measure, marking a mature stage in bilateral naval relations.
Previous lower-profile collaborations, such as Russia’s “Volkhov” submarine participating in joint patrols in 2025, laid the groundwork for this high-profile operation in 2026. The technical mechanisms validated during the exercise provide a reusable template for future extended-duration, geographically expanded joint underwater missions in the Western Pacific.
Disclaimer: All equipment data cited above originates from reports published by Defense Security Asia.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870503324713161/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.