Amid increased Russian naval activity in the northwestern Pacific, Japan kept under surveillance the most recent anti-submarine exercises carried out by Russian Navy corvettes in areas near the Kuril Islands— a key region through which military units regularly transit between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
According to Russian media, the corvettes Gremyashchiy (337) —the class lead ship— and Gromkiy (335) —Steregushchiy-class— both assigned to the Pacific Fleet, executed a search-and-destroy exercise against a simulated “enemy” submarine while sailing through strait areas within the Kuril arc. The activity included the detection of a submerged contact attempting to evade pursuit, as well as the application of tactical tracking and signaling procedures intended to force it to surface.
According to the official Russian statement, after the simulated submarine refused to comply with the orders issued, the corvette Gromkiy conducted an electronic training launch of a torpedo from the Paket-NK anti-submarine system, an action through which the target was deemed “neutralized”. This formed part of the units’ routine training during their maritime transit, during which 30 mm AK-630 automatic artillery systems and 12.7 mm heavy machine guns were employed to counter aerial drones and unmanned surface craft.
Vigilance by Japan
In parallel with these activities, Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Maritime Self-Defense Force units carried out surveillance, tracking, and intelligence tasks on other Russian Navy vessels transiting sensitive areas. In particular, on February 1 of this month, the passage of a Russian Steregushchiy III-class frigate toward the Pacific through the Tsugaru Strait was detected. Regarding the assets deployed, Japan confirmed the participation of the destroyer JS Chikuma, assigned to the 15th Escort Division based in Ominato, and a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from the 2nd Air Group based in Hachinohe.
A scenario of sustained activity
The coincidence between Russian anti-submarine exercises and Japanese monitoring once again highlights the strategic importance of access routes to the western Pacific and of the straits connecting the Sea of Japan with open waters. In this context, the recurring presence of Russian units—together with Japan’s constant monitoring—reflects a scenario of sustained naval activity, where training, capability demonstration, and mutual observation are part of an increasingly routine dynamic in the region.
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