Russia and China Forge New Undersea Alliance in Unprecedented Submarine Drills

2 days ago7 min read

In a strategic shift with global ramifications, Russia and China have conducted their first-ever joint submarine warfare exercise, a 15-day operation in August that moves their military partnership from symbolic displays to integrated combat capability. The detailed account, published in a specialized military journal, reveals an unprecedented level of trust, centering on the shared use of classified sonar data—a core naval secret—and coordinated rescue operations, signaling a deepening alliance focused on projecting a unified deterrent beneath the waves.The exercise featured two advanced Kilo-class diesel-electric attack submarines—Russia's Volkhov and China's Great Wall 210—valued for their stealth in coastal waters, operating alongside Russian surface vessels in a formation that mimics real-world anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies aimed at challenging U. S.and allied naval dominance in areas like the South China Sea. This submarine-centric drill, following the broader 'Joint Sea 2025' surface exercises, marks a significant escalation in the complexity of Sino-Russian military collaboration, fusing Russia's veteran submarine expertise with China's rapidly expanding fleet into a cohesive underwater network.Analysts point to multiple risks: the tactical advantage of shared acoustic libraries, which could enhance tracking of Western submarines; the geopolitical signal of a Eurasian naval axis challenging maritime supremacy; and potential flashpoints from Taiwan to the Arctic where combined undersea power could alter conflict calculus. Historically, such intimate submarine cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is without Cold War precedent, emerging from shared strategic necessity against a common perceived adversary.Experts, including retired Admiral James Stavridis, note that in the 'cat and mouse' game of undersea warfare, pooling acoustic data creates a joint counter-intelligence framework against the U. S.Navy. The consequences may include increased U.S. submarine patrols, a NATO push for new anti-submarine technologies, and an accelerated arms race in undersea drones, effectively bifurcating the oceanic domain and raising the stakes for miscalculation in the silent depths.

#Russia

#China

#joint submarine exercise

#sonar data

#rescue drills

#military cooperation

#featured

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.