Beijingwalker
VIP Member
China and Russia Deploy Destroyers, Cruisers and Submarines for Landmark Live Fire Exercises
Asia-Pacific , Naval
July-13th-2026
Chinese PLA Navy Type 055 Class Destroyer
he Sino-Russian joint naval exercise Joint Sea-2026 was confirmed on July 13 to have concluded, and involved the Russian Pacific Fleet’s flagship, the Slava class cruiser Varyag, and the Type 055 class destroyer Anshan, along with a Russian Kilo class and Chinese Type 039B class diesel electric submarine. Commenting on the exercises, Russian Navy exercise commanders Rear Admiral Sergey Sinko observed: “Throughout the exercise, the crews and staff of both countries effectively addressed key aspects of joint force management, communication, and coordination.” He noted that each phase of the joint operations served as an opportunity to exchange professional expertise in areas such as joint manoeuvring, air and anti-submarine defence.
Russian Slava Class Cruiser and Chinese Type 055 Destroyer During Exercises
The Russian Navy has not procured new destroyers or cruisers since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, which has resulted in a sharp decline in the standing of its ocean-going warships particularly relative to those of China. The Kilo class submarine’s capabilities are also very limited compared to those of the Chinese Type 039B class, primarily due to a lack of air-independent propulsions systems. The poor performance of the Slava class cruisers in the Russian-Ukrainian War may limit the value of joint exercises for China in terms of gaining experience. For the Russian Navy, however, operating alongside the Type 055 class, which is widely considered the world’s most capable destroyer class, could be invaluable. The exercises have served to highlight the extent both of the decline in the standing of the Russian Navy and the rise of that of China.
Russian Kilo Class and Chinese Type 039B Class Attack Submarines
It has been speculated that future Joint Sea exercises may involve nuclear powered submarines from both countries. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy's North Sea Fleet is equipped with at least two Type 093A and three Type 093B nuclear powered attack submarines, and is expected to procure at least ten more in the future, including new Type 095 class attack submarines, which are in many respects the most advanced in the world. The Russian Pacific Fleet fields three new Yasen class nuclear powered attack submarines, which have a significantly higher international standing than the country’s cruisers or diesel-electric submarines and may have advantages over the Type 093 class.
