China and Russia Deploy Submarines Together for First Time in Joint Sea 2026 Drills

China and Russia have completed the maritime phase of their Joint Sea 2026 exercise in the Yellow Sea, marking the first time submarines from both countries have operated together during the annual naval drills, Zona Militar reported on July 13.

According to China’s Defense Ministry and state media, the exercise included anti-submarine warfare, air defense, attacks against surface targets, and submarine rescue operations.

The scenarios were designed to test whether the two navies could coordinate effectively in complex maritime conditions.

Zona Militar noted that China deployed an improved Yuan-class Type 039B conventional submarine, while Russia sent the diesel-electric submarine Ufa, a Project 636.3 Varshavyanka vessel known in NATO terminology as the Improved Kilo class.

The simultaneous participation of both submarines was one of the most significant features of this year’s exercise. Previous editions of Joint Sea had focused mainly on surface warships, making the move into coordinated undersea operations a notable expansion of military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.

Russia’s naval group also included the Varyag guided-missile cruiser, the Rezkiy corvette, and the Igor Belousov submarine rescue ship.

China deployed the guided-missile destroyers Kaifeng and Anshan, the Wuhu guided-missile frigate, and the Honghu replenishment ship.

China Bugle, an official Chinese military outlet, reported that the drills were conducted without fully scripted scenarios. Participating units had to adjust to changing weather, the electromagnetic environment, and evolving tactical situations.

China’s Type 039B is among the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s most advanced conventional submarines. It uses air-independent propulsion, allowing it to remain submerged for extended periods while reducing its acoustic signature.

The Russian Ufa recently entered service with the Pacific Fleet. The submarine can deploy torpedoes, naval mines, and Kalibr cruise missiles, making it one of Russia’s most capable conventionally powered submarines.

Zona Militar said the pairing of the two boats demonstrated how Joint Sea has moved beyond traditional surface warfare and into a broader multidomain training format that now includes undersea operations.

China and Russia launched the Joint Sea exercise series in 2012 and have gradually expanded its geographic reach, operational complexity, and range of participating forces.

The maritime phase of Joint Sea 2026 took place on July 10 and 11 after an opening ceremony held at the Chinese port of Qingdao on July 6.

China’s Defense Ministry said some of the participating vessels will remain deployed for another joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean.

Both countries say the exercises are intended to deepen bilateral military cooperation and improve their ability to operate together in increasingly complex maritime environments.

Earlier, European Union officials confirmed that China provided military training to hundreds of Russian soldiers who were subsequently deployed to participate in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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