Chinese, Russian navies conduct co-ordinated anti-submarine drill in Sea of Japan

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the Russian Navy are carrying out a co-ordinated anti-submarine drill in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in a sign of growing interoperability between the two services.

The drill is being carried out as part of ‘Joint Sea' 2021, the series of bilateral naval exercises that have been taking place between the two services since 2012. The exercise is being held from 14–17 October, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

The PLAN is participating in the exercise with the Type 052D destroyer Kunming , the first-of-class Type 055 destroyer Nanchang , two of its Type 056 corvettes, Qinzhou and Luzhou , an undisclosed diesel submarine, and supporting vessels.

The exercise marks Nanchang 's first known deployment to an exercise with a foreign navy.

Meanwhile, the Russian Navy is represented by its Udaloy‐class destroyer Admiral Panteleyev , the Steregushchiy I-class corvettes Aldar Tsydenzhapov and Gromky , a Type 877 ‘Kilo'-type diesel-electric submarine, two coastal minesweepers, and a rescue tug.

A further 12 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters across the two services are also being deployed at the drills.

Besides the anti-submarine drill, the two navies will also undertaking joint tactical manoeuvrings, mine countermeasure drills, and gunnery exercises, TASS reported on 14 October, citing information from the Russian Pacific Fleet's press office.