Russian Pacific Fleet Drills in the Sea of Japan

Ships of Russia’s Pacific Fleet conducted a series of combat exercises in the Sea of Japan, including drills to repel a missile strike and engage a simulated enemy submarine, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

A Pacific Fleet detachment comprising the large anti-submarine ships Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Tributs, along with the corvettes Sovershenny and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, trained to counter a large-scale air and missile attack.

During the exercise, fleet combat crews detected a simulated air strike, activated electronic countermeasures, and engaged incoming targets with Redut and Kinzhal surface-to-air missile systems. The Ministry of Defence said that all simulated targets were intercepted at a safe distance.

The simulated attack was carried out using Moskit cruise missiles and Saman projectiles, serving as stand-ins for enemy weapons. The drills were conducted in designated training areas in the Sea of Japan.

In a separate exercise held earlier, the corvettes Sovershenny and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov participated in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in coordination with naval aviation. The ships detected and pursued a simulated enemy submarine operating in Russian territorial waters. After locating the target, the ships conducted practical torpedo launches using the Packet anti-submarine torpedo system.

The target submarine in the drill was played by one of the Pacific Fleet’s own submarines. According to the Russian Navy, these exercises are part of ongoing fleet training to enhance coordination between surface ships and aviation units in anti-submarine and air defence operations.

The Sovershenny and Aldar Tsydenzhapov are Project 20380 corvettes designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau and built at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant. The ships are intended for operations in the near-sea zone, including detecting and engaging submarines and surface targets, and supporting amphibious operations.

A defence ministry representative said the drills were “conducted in accordance with the Pacific Fleet’s combat training schedule.”