Sovremenny Class (Project 956) Missile Destroyer

[yasin_khan]

China purchased two unfinished ex-Soviet Navy Sovremenny class (Project 956) missiles destroyers in the 1990s. The two ships, 136 Hangzhou and 137 Fuzhou, were delivered to the PLA Navy in 1999 and 2000 respectively. With their formidable 3M-80E Moskit (NATO codename: SS-N-22 Sunburn) supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles and 9M38 (NATO codename: SA-N-7 Gadfly) air defence missiles, Sovremenny class is the most capable surface combatant in the PLA Navy inventory. China ordered an additional two Sovremenny destroyers in 2002. These are the improved variant Project 956EM and expected to be delivered between 2005 and 2006.

http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/sov.asp

[gf0012-aust]

China purchased two unfinished ex-Soviet Navy Sovremenny class (Project 956) missiles destroyers in the 1990s. The two ships, 136 Hangzhou and 137 Fuzhou, were delivered to the PLA Navy in 1999 and 2000 respectively. With their formidable 3M-80E Moskit (NATO codename: SS-N-22 Sunburn) supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles and 9M38 (NATO codename: SA-N-7 Gadfly) air defence missiles, Sovremenny class is the most capable surface combatant in the PLA Navy inventory. China ordered an additional two Sovremenny destroyers in 2002. These are the improved variant Project 956EM and expected to be delivered between 2005 and 2006.

http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/sov.asp

China bought the Sovs to counter Taiwans purchase of the 4 x Kidds

[tatra]

They ordered another two of a modernized design (e.g. fitted with Kashtan CIWS but no twin 130mm gun in the rear), with an option for a further two.
PLAN ordered these before Taiwan got Kidd class ships.

[Pathfinder-X]

The Sunburn missile carried on Sovremenny is over rated. Eight units is equipped on each ship which is obviously not enough to threaten a U.S battlegroup. Second the missile only has 120km range, I doubt it can get in range to launch the missile on a battlegroup without being sunk.

[gf0012-aust]

They ordered another two of a modernized design (e.g. fitted with Kashtan CIWS but no twin 130mm gun in the rear), with an option for a further two.
PLAN ordered these before Taiwan got Kidd class ships.

I was under the impression that they ordered the Sovs when the taiwanese were looking at 4 Spruances. They then ended up with the "detuned little sister" (after Australia had said no to them)

[Pathfinder-X]

Actually GF, many people believed China bought those Sovremenny hoping to give second thoughts to U.S CBG about getting close to Taiwan. Apparently it isn't much of a use since the range of Sunburn is limited to 120km. But the two new ones China ordered has an improved version of the missile(reportly 200km) and VLS installed.

[tatra]

@pathfinder:The new ones ordered by PLAN do NOT have vls. This opinion based on review of a shipmodel displayed by Severnoye design bureau.

@gf0012-aust: uhm, the Taiwanese may have been looking at acquiring early Ticonderoga's at the time but since they were not going to get the AEGIS equipped ships they eventually settles for the next best thing, which is the Kidd class. Spruances are more optimized for ASW work and would hardly need countering by Sovremenny's (countering by Udaloy class would have been more appropriate in that case). Dunno, maybe you're right. :smokingc:

[gf0012-aust]

@gf0012-aust: uhm, the Taiwanese may have been looking at acquiring early Ticonderoga's at the time but since they were not going to get the AEGIS equipped ships they eventually settles for the next best thing, which is the Kidd class. Spruances are more optimized for ASW work and would hardly need countering by Sovremenny's (countering by Udaloy class would have been more appropriate in that case). Dunno, maybe you're right. :smokingc:

The ever eternal mysteries and wonders of procurement... ;)