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 Bezuprechny in August 1986 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sovremenny class |
| Builders | Zhdanov Shipyard |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by |
|
| Succeeded by |
|
| Built | 1976–2004 |
| In commission | 1980–present |
| Planned | 25 |
| Completed | 21 |
| Canceled | 4 |
| Active | 4 (PLA Navy) |
| Retired | 15 (2 Laid-up) |
| Preserved | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | 6,600 tons standard, 8,000 tons full load |
| Length | 156 m (511 ft 10 in) |
| Beam | 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in) |
| Draught | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 shaft steam turbines, 4 boilers, 75,000 kW (100,000 hp), 2 fixed propellers, 2 turbo generators, and 2 diesel generators |
| Speed | 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph) |
| Range |
|
| Complement | 350 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | 2 PK-2 decoy dispensers (200 rockets) |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 ×Ka-27 series helicopter |
| Aviation facilities | Helipad |
TheSovremenny class, Soviet designationProject 956Sarych (buzzard), is aclass of anti-ship and anti-aircraftguided-missile destroyers of theSoviet and laterRussian Navy. The ships are named after qualities, with "Sovremenny" translating as "modern" or "contemporary". Most of the ships have been retired from active service and one converted into amuseum ship in 2018; as of 2025 one remains in the ranks of the Russian Navy. Four modified ships were delivered to thePeople's Liberation Army Navy, and remain in service.
TheSovremenny class are guided-missile destroyers, primarily tasked with anti-ship warfare, while also providing sea and air defense for warships and transports under escort. The class was designed to complement theUdaloy-class destroyers, which were fitted primarily foranti-submarine operations.
The project began in the late 1960s when it was becoming obvious in theSoviet Navy that naval guns still had an important role, particularly in support of amphibious landings, but existing guncruisers and destroyers were showing their age. A new design was started, employing a new 130 mm automatic gun turret.[1] Single and twin mounts were developed, and the twin mount was chosen for its superior rate of fire. In 1971 a go-ahead was given for the Severnaya design bureau to design "a ship capable of supporting amphibious landings".[2] At the same time, theUnited States Navy was constructing new largeSpruance-class multi-role destroyers. To respond to this new threat, Project 956 was updated with a new air defence suite and new, powerful 3M80 anti-ship missiles. Although the Soviet Navy had largely moved to gas turbine propulsion for its new warships, steam turbines were selected instead for Project 956: partly because production of naval gas turbines would have been insufficient for the entire program. The lead ship of the class,Sovremenny was laid down in 1976 and commissioned in 1980. A total of 17 were built for theRussian Navy, but currently, only six remain in service due to a lack of funds and trained personnel. Additionally, two ships are ongoing modernization and overhaul and two are laid up in reserve (the table lists three in service, two in reserve, one being overhauled, and 11 decommissioned + four Chinese). All the ships were built bySevernaya Verf 190 inSt. Petersburg.
These ships have a maximum displacement of 7,940 tons. The ships are 156 metres (511 ft 10 in) in length, with abeam of 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in) and adraught of 6.5 metres (21 ft 4 in). They are armed with an anti-submarine helicopter, 48 air defence missiles, eight anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, mines, long-range guns and a sophisticated electronic warfare system.
There are a total of three versions of this class: the original Project 956 armed with the 3M80 version of theMoskitanti-ship missile, and its successor, the Project 956A, which is armed with the improved 3M80M version of the Moskit with longer range. The main difference between the two is that the missile launching tubes on Project 956A are longer than that of Project 956 to accommodate the increased size of the newer missile, and these launching tubes can be used to fire/store the original 3M80 as well. A third version, Project 956EM, later developed for thePeople's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force was the latest development of this class. Chinese media called the ship a "carrier killer".
The ship's combat systems can use target designation data from the ship's active and passive sensors, from other ships in the fleet, from surveillance aircraft or via a communications link from the ship's helicopter. The multi-channel defence suite is capable of striking several targets simultaneously.
The ship is outfitted with the RadugaMoskitanti-ship missile system with two four-cell launchers installed port and starboard of the forward island and set at an angle of about 15°. The ship carries a total of eight Moskit 3M80E missiles, NATO designation SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile is sea-skimming with a velocity of Mach 2.5, armed with a 300-kilogram (660 lb) high-explosive or a nuclear 200 kt warhead. The range is from 10 to 120 kilometres (6.2 to 74.6 mi). The launch weight is 4,000 kg (8,800 lb).
Two Shtil surface-to-air missile systems are installed, each on the raised deck behind the twin-barrelled 130 mm guns. Shtil is the export name of theSA-N-7, NATO reporting name Gadfly. (From the 9th ship onwards, the same launcher is used forSA-17 Grizzly/SA-N-12 Yezh.) The system uses the ship's three-dimensional circular scan radar for target tracking. Up to three missiles can be aimed simultaneously. The range is up to 25 km (16 mi) against targets with speeds up to 830 metres per second (2,700 ft/s). The ship carries 48 Shtil missiles.
The ship's 130-millimetre (5.1 in) guns are the AK-130-MR-184.[3] The system includes a computer control system with electronic and television sighting. The gun can be operated in fully automatic mode from the radar control system, under autonomous control using the turret-mounted Kondensor optical sighting system, and can also be laid manually. The rate of fire is disputed, but various Russian sources credit the weapon with a cyclic rate of 30–40 rounds per minute per barrel, in line with theFrench Creusot-Loire 100 mm or the ItalianOTO Melara 127 mm/54, but faster than the US Mark 45.
The ship has four six-barreled 30 mmAK-630 auto-cannon systems. The maximum rate of fire is 5,000 rounds/min. Range is up to 4,000 m for low flying anti-ship missiles and 5,000 m for light surface targets. The gun is outfitted with radar and television detection and tracking. The latestSovremennys carry theKashtan CIWS system instead of AK-630.
The destroyers have two double 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes and two six-barrelRBU-1000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, with 48 rockets.[3] Range is 1,000 metres (1,100 yd). The rocket is armed with a 55 kg (121 lb) warhead.
The ship's helicopter pad and telescopic hangar accommodate oneKamov Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare helicopter, NATO codename Helix. The helicopter can operate in conditions up to Sea State 5 and up to 200 km (120 mi) from the host ship.
The Project 956 destroyer is fitted with an electronic countermeasures system and carries a store of 200 rockets for the two decoy dispensers, model PK-2.
The complete sensor suite andECM comprises:3D radar 'Top Steer', replaced later with 'Top Plate' (MR-760), 230 km range vs fighters and 50 km vs missiles and a total of 40 targets can be simultaneously tracked; Mineral system ('Band Stand') to allow the SS-N 22 guidance; 3 navigation and surface control radar MR-201 e 212; 2 'Bass Tilt' (MR-123) for CIWS; 6 'Front Dome'(MR-90) radar for SA-N-7 guidance (a very large arrangement to assure an effective defense against saturation attacks), linked with 3D radar and two SAM launcher (5 missile min each); 1 'Kite Screech' radar for 130 mm (MR-184 Lev). ECM andESM are many: 2 ESM MR-410 or MP-405; 2 ECM MRP-11M or 12M ('Bell Shroud'), 2 'Bell Squat', 4 'Football B' and one MR-407; 2 PK-2M rocket launchers (140 mm), and 8 PK-10 (120 mm), 2–8laser warning receiver systems Spektr-F, one Squeeze Box (TV, laser and IR system).
Medium and high frequencies (M/HF) MGK-355 Platina integrated sonar system withNATO reporting name Bull Horn, including the MG-335 hull-mounted array. Type 956 originally only carries the hull-mounted array because the ASW gear of this class is primarily for self-defence. For Type 956A, an improved MGK-355MS Platina is carried, which includes hull-mounted array, VDS, and towed array, withNATO reporting names Bull Nose / Mare Tail / Steer Hide respectively. It is reported that Type 956EM is equipped with the successor of MGK-355/355MS, the MGK-355TA integrated sonar system, which includes both the hull-mounted and towed arrays (withNATO reporting name Horse Jaw & Horse Tail respectively).
The ship's propulsion system is based on two steam turbine engines each producing 37,000 kW (50,000 hp) together with four high-pressure boilers. There are two fixed-pitch propellers. The ship's maximum speed is just under 33knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). At a fuel-economic speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) the range is 3,920nautical miles (7,260 km; 4,510 mi). Several ships of this class suffered from problems regarding their propulsion system that were so severe that they had to be retired.[4]
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The ChinesePeople's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN) had two modifiedSovremenny-class destroyers delivered in December 1999 and November 2000, designated as Project 956E,[5] with improved electronic gears.[5] In 2002, the PLAN ordered two improved versions designated Project 956EM. The first vessel was launched in late 2005, while the second was launched in 2006. All four vessels were commissioned to theEast Sea Fleet.
On the improved Project Project 956EM, the aft AK-130 main gun was removed. The four AK-630 CIWS were replaced by two sets ofKashtan CIWS short-range air defence gun/missile systems. Each Kashtan system comprises a 3R86E1 command module and two 3R87E combat modules. Each 3R87E combat module has two 30 mm GSh-30k six-barrel automatic guns (range 0.5–4 km (0.31–2.49 mi)) and twoSA-N-11 air defence missiles. The missile is armed with a 9 kg (20 lb) warhead and has a range of 1.5–8 km (0.93–4.97 mi). This improved 956EM version is also the first to be armed with the newer version of SS-N-22, which is reported to have a designation of 3-M80MBE and possibly funded by China (according to Russian sources), and the new missile differs from the older ones mainly in that the range is increased from 120 km (75 mi) to 200 km (120 mi). The air defense software is upgraded to accommodate the newerSA-N-12/SA-17 SAM system, but since China had already joined Russia in developing an even newer successor, it is not clear if SA-N-12/SA-17 has entered Chinese service in large numbers.
In 2006, the extra spheres (painted white in the mid-2006) added atop of the superstructures of the Chinese ships appearing in the latest photographs of the Chinese units have shown that these Chinese ships had been upgraded with the domestic HN-900Data link (the Chinese equivalent ofLink 11A/B, to be upgraded) andSATCOM (probably the SNTI-240).
From mid-2014, all four ChineseSovremenny-class destroyers are planned to undergo a midlife upgrade program. As of 2016,Hangzhou was reported to be undergoing refit with its original components replaced with domestic systems. In addition to the replacement of electronics and sensors, armament upgrades include replacing 2x4 3M80E Moskit anti-ship missiles with 2x4YJ-12A supersonic missiles and swapping two launchers for 48 SA-N-12 SAMs with 4 sets of 8-cellvertical launch systems totaling 32 cells forHQ-16C orYu-8 anti-submarine missiles.[6][7]
_is_currently_underway_participating_in_Baltic_Operations_(BALTOPS)_2005.jpg)
| Name | Namesake | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Russian Navy | ||||||
| Sovremenny | Modern | 3 March 1976 | 18 November 1978 | 25 December 1980 | Northern | Decommissioned in 1998 |
| Otchayanny | Reckless | 1 March 1977 | 29 March 1980 | 30 September 1982 | Decommissioned in 1998 | |
| Otlichny | Excellent | 22 April 1978 | 21 March 1981 | 30 September 1983 | Decommissioned in 1998 | |
| Osmotritelny | Circumspect | 27 October 1978 | 24 April 1982 | 30 September 1984 | Pacific | Decommissioned in 1998 |
| Bezuprechny | Impeccable | 29 January 1981 | 25 July 1983 | 6 November 1985 | Northern | Decommissioned in 2001 |
| Boyevoy | Militant | 26 March 1982 | 4 August 1984 | 28 September 1986 | Pacific | Decommissioned in 2010 |
| Stoyky | Steadfast | 28 September 1982 | 27 July 1985 | 31 December 1986 | Decommissioned in 1998 | |
| Okrylyonny | Winged | 16 April 1983 | 31 May 1986 | 30 December 1987 | Northern | Decommissioned in 1998 |
| Burny | Impetuous | 4 November 1983 | 30 December 1986 | 30 September 1988 | Pacific | Out of service since 2005[10][11] |
| Gremyashchy (ex-Veduschy) | Thunderous | 23 November 1984 | 30 May 1987 | 30 December 1988 | Northern | Decommissioned in 2006 |
| Bystry | Quick | 29 October 1985 | 28 November 1987 | 30 September 1989 | Pacific | Decommissioned in 2022[12] |
| Rastoropny | Prompt | 15 August 1986 | 4 June 1988 | 30 December 1989 | Northern | Decommissioned in 2012 |
| Bezboyaznenny | Fearless | 8 January 1987 | 18 February 1989 | 28 December 1990 | Pacific | Decommissioned in 2016 |
| Gremyashchy (ex-Bezuderzhny) | Thunderous | 24 February 1987 | 30 September 1989 | 25 June 1991 | Northern | Decommissioned in 2013 |
| Bespokoyny | Restless | 18 April 1987 | 9 June 1990 | 28 December 1991 | Baltic | Decommissioned in 2018, museum ship inKronstadt[13] |
| Nastoychivy (ex-Moskovsky Komsomolets) | Persistent | 7 April 1988 | 19 January 1991 | 30 December 1992 | Refit reported in 2019, but inactive/ to be decommissioned as of 2025[14] | |
| Admiral Ushakov (ex-Besstrashny) | Fyodor Ushakov (ex-Fearless) | 6 May 1988 | 28 December 1991 | 30 December 1993 | Northern | Decommissioned in 2025[15] |
 People's Liberation Army Navy | ||||||
| Hangzhou (ex-Vazhny) | City ofHangzhou | 4 November 1988 | 27 May 1994 | 25 December 1999 | East Sea | Active |
| Fuzhou (ex-Vdumchivy) | City ofFuzhou | 22 April 1989 | 16 April 1999 | 20 November 2000 | Active | |
| Taizhou (ex-Vnushitelny) | City ofTaizhou, Jiangsu | 3 July 2002 | 27 April 2004 | 28 December 2005 | Active | |
| Ningbo (ex-Vechny) | City ofNingbo | 15 November 2002 | 23 July 2004 | 27 September 2006 | Active | |
 Soviet and Russian Navies | |
|---|---|
| People's Liberation Army Navy | |
| |