Japan’s Naval Self-Defense Forces reported that a Russian strategic nuclear submarine of the “Borei” project was spotted near the country, accompanied by two other ships. This is the first time that such objects appeared near the Japanese archipelago, informs Zona Militar.
The submarine, together with the two ships, passed about 40 km west of the Soya Strait in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Although their movement did not pose a threat, the Ministry of Defense of Japan decided to use surveillance equipment.
The missile patrol boat JS Wakatake and the P-3C Orion patrol aircraft were deployed for monitoring. The submarine was escorted by a project 1164 missile cruiser “Atlant”, identified as “Varyag” 011, and the ocean rescue tug “Fotiy Krylov” project P-5757.
The latest movements of Russian nuclear submarines have attracted attention in the region, particularly from the Japanese authorities, because for the first time such units have been detected near the Japanese archipelago. Although specific data about the submarine’s name or ship number have not been made public, it is known that a few weeks ago the Russian Navy announced the completion of the deployment of the submarine of the modernized project “Borey-A” K-554 “Emperor Alexander III”, which patrolled the Pacific Ocean for three months.
According to the Russian Navy, the unit was carrying out so-called “combat missions” aimed at training crews and demonstrating Russia’s ability to deter in the region, given the possibility of such boats launching intercontinental ballistic missiles. Borei-class submarines and “ Borei-A” are carriers of intercontinental ballistic missiles “Bulava”.
