Sovremenny-class destroyer Bezuprechnyy
Class overview
Name:	Sovremennyy class
Builders:	Severnaya Verf (Zhdanov Shipyard)
Operators:	Soviet Navy Russian Navy People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by:	Russia: Kashin class China: Type 051B
Succeeded by:	Russia: Lider-class destroyer China: Type 052B
In commission:	1980
Completed:	21
Active:	5 active, 3 ongoing modernization and 2 in reserve in Russia, 4 active in China
Retired:	10
General characteristics
Type:	Anti-aircraft and anti-ship guided missile destroyer
Displacement:	6,600 tons standard, 8,480 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:	14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement:	350
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar: Air target acquisition radar, 3 × navigation radars, 130 mm gun fire-control radars, 30 mm air-defence gun fire control radar Sonar: Active and passive under-keel sonar ES: Tactical situation plotting board, anti-ship missile fire control system, air defence, missile fire-control system, and torpedo fire control system
Electronic warfare & decoys:	2 PK-2 decoy dispensers (200 rockets)
Armament:	Guns and Missiles 2× 4 Moskit SSM P-270 (SS-N-22 'Sunburn') Anti-ship missiles 2× 24 Shtil SAM (SA-N-12 'Grizzly) 4× (2×2) AK-130-MR-184 130 mm guns 4× 30 mm AK-630 Gatling guns Anti-submarine: 4× (2×2) 533 mm Torpedo tubes 2× RBU-1000 300 mm anti-submarine rocket launcher
Aircraft carried:	1× Ka-27 'Helix'

The project began in the late 1960s when it was becoming obvious in the Soviet Navy that naval guns still had an important role particularly in support of amphibious landings, but existing gun cruisers and destroyers were showing their age. A new design was started, employing a new 130 mm automatic gun turret. Single and twin mounts were developed, and the twin mount 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".^[1] At the same time, the United States Navy was constructing new large Spruance-class multi-role destroyers. To respond to this new threat, Project 956 was updated with 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 entire program. Lead ship of the class, Sovremenny was laid down in 1976 and commissioned in 1980. A total of 18 have been built for the Russian Navy, but currently only 5 remain in service due to lack of funds and trained personnel. Additional 3 ships are ongoing modernization and overhaul and 2 are laid-up in reserve. All the ships were built by Severnaya Verf 190 St. Petersburg.

These ships have a maximum displacement of 7,940 tons. The ships are 156 metres (511 ft 10 in) in length, with a beam of 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in) and a draught 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 the Moskit anti-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 the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force was the latest development of this class. Chinese media called the ship "carrier killer".