MOSCOW, November 25. /TASS/. The Ufa diesel-electric submarine and ships of the Malaysian Navy have completed a PASSEX-type joint naval exercise in the South China Sea, the Russian Pacific Fleet’s press office reported.
"The diesel-electric submarine Ufa, escorted by the Pacific Fleet’s rescue tug Alatau, has finished its official visit at the port of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and conducted the PASSEX naval drills with ships of the Malaysian Navy in the South China Sea," the press service said.
It added that the vessels from both countries practiced joint maneuvering, communication, and other forms of cooperation.
Earlier, Russian sailors held several meetings with the command of the Malaysian Navy, played friendly volleyball matches, and visited local landmarks. This was the first time Russian Navy ships had visited the port of Kota Kinabalu.
Built at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg, located in Russia’s northwest, the diesel-electric submarine Ufa is making an inter-fleet transit from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Fleet via the southern maritime route. The submarine was commissioned into the Russian Navy on November 16, 2022. It is the fourth of six Project 636.3 submarines being constructed for Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Submarines of this project combine optimal acoustic stealth, long-range target detection, and powerful torpedo and missile armament. They are equipped with the Kalibr high-precision missile system as their primary strike weapon.