Spotting Russian Navy submarines in the Arctic isn't an all-too-common sight, but last week, a Russian Kilo II-class diesel-electric boat surfaced someplace truly unexpected – namely the West Philippine Sea. According to sources with the Philippine Navy, the submarine was identified as the Ufa, and was first spotted 148 kilometers, eighty nautical miles, west of Occidental Mindoro, and within the Philippines's economic waters.
"Look: The Russian submarine UFA 490 is being monitored and escorted by Philippine Navy warship BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) during the former's transit in the West Philippine Sea on November 28, 2024. (Courtesy of Armed Forces of the Philippines) @manilabulletin," wrote Martin Sadongdong, Philippines defense writer for the Manila Bulletin, on X.
Russian Navy's sub opted to surface due to changing weather conditions, and its movements were carefully tracked by the guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the led vessel of the first purpose-built frigates for the Maritime Southeast Asian nation.
"Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), of our baselines is very worrisome," Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in an interview on Monday, Newsweek reported.
However, the Philippine military said that the submarine complied with maritime regulations and that it was in communication with the Russian boat, which was described as "friendly." The Ufa was reported to be waiting for improved weather conditions and would then proceed to Vladivostok, the home port for the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet.
Contested Waters
Manila regularly watches for, and tracks, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships and submarines, but this marks the first time in recent years that a Russian submarine has transited the waters of the West Philippine Sea, the area of the South China Sea that fall within the Philippine's EEZ, which extends 200 nautical miles from a nation's coast.
Beijing and Manila have both laid claims to vast swaths of the waters in the region, which are rich in natural resources.
The Long Way Round
Ufa is the Russian Navy's fourth modified Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarine, also known as the Kilo II-class. The submarine was built at the Admiralty Shipyards of the United Shipbuilding Corporation in St. Petersburg and launched in November 2022.
The boat completed its sea trials last year.
The modified Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class submarines (NATO reporting name: Improved Kilo-II) have been referred to as the third generation of large diesel-electric underwater cruisers. The boats, which have been nicknamed "Black Holes" by the U.S. Navy, were designed to operate in shallower, coastal waters and are tasked with anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.
The attack submarines are equipped with acoustic stealth and a target detection range, as well as the latest inertial navigator, advanced automated information and control system, more powerful high-speed torpedo, and improved missile armament. Each of the Project 636.3 submarines is seventy-four meters long while the boats displace more than 3,900 tons, due to their strong hull, the submarines have an operational depth of 240 meters and can dive to a maximum depth of 300 meters.
With the engine plant placed away from the hull, which eliminates some noise, the diesel-electric submarines have been described as being among the world's quietest underwater cruisers, making them extremely dangerous. Each is also furnished with modern radar and communications systems and advanced sonars.
Each of the boats, which carry a crew of fifty-two submarines, can travel at speeds of up to twenty knots, while they have sea endurance of forty-five days and an operational range of up to 7,500 miles. The boats are armed with the Kalibr-PL cruise missiles that are launched from six 21-inch torpedo tubes while submerged.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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