Sovremenny class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Sovremenny class destroyer is the principal anti-surface warship
of the Russian Navy. Soviet designation for the class was Project 956 Sarych (Buzzard).
Its primary role is to attack enemy warships while also providing sea and air defense for warships and transports under escort. It complements the Udaloy-class
destroyers in anti-submarine operations.
The project began in 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". At the same time, the US Navy was constructing new large Spruance class
multirole 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 only twelve remain in service due to lack of funds and trained personnel. All the ships were built by Severnaya Verf
190 St. Petersburg.
These ships have a maximum displacement of 7,940 t. Dimensions are: Length 156 m, Beam 17.3 m and draught is 6.5 m. They are armed with an anti-submarine helicopter, 44 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 3M80 version of Moskit
anti-ship missile
, and its successor, the Project 956A, which is armed with improved 3M80M version of Moskit
anti-ship missile
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 People's Liberation Army Navy
was the latest development of this class.
anti-ship missile
system with two four-cell launchers installed port and starboard of the forward island and set at an angle about 15°. The ship carries a total of eight Moskit 3M80E missiles, NATO designation SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile is a sea-skimming missile with velocity of Mach 2.5, armed with a 300 kg high-explosive or a nuclear 200 kt warhead. The range is from 10 to 120 km. The launch weight is 4,000 kg.
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 the SA-N-7, NATO reporting name Gadfly.(From the 9th ship onwards, same launcher is used for SA-17Grizzly/ SA-N-12Yezh.) 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 against targets with speeds up to 830 m/s. The ship carries 48 Shtil missiles.
The ship's 130 mm guns are the AK-130-MR-184. 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. 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 the French Creusot-Loire 100 mm
or the Italian OTO-Melara 127 mm/54, but faster than the US Mark 45.
The ship has four six-barreled 30 mm AK-630
artillery 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 latest Sovremennys carry the CADS-N-1 Kashtan CIWS system instead of AK-630.
The destroyer has two double 533 mm torpedo tubes and two six-barrel RBU-1000
anti-submarine rocket launchers, with 48 rockets. Range is 1,000 m The rocket is armed with a 55 kg warhead.
anti-submarine warfare helicopter, NATO codename Helix. The helicopter can operate in conditions up to Sea State 5 and up to 200 km from the host ship.
The complete sensor suite and ECM is all around, very impressive: 3D radar 'Top Steer', replaced later with 'Top Plate' (MR-760), 230 km range vs fighters and 50 km vs missiles; 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 'Top Dome' 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 and ESM
are many: 2 ESM MR-410 or MP-405; 2 ECM MRP-11M or 12M ('Bell Shroud'), 2 'Bell Squat', 4 'Foot-ball B' and one MR-407; 2 PK-2M rocket launchers (140 mm), and 8 PK-10 (120 mm), 2-8 laser-warning systems Spektr-F, one Squeeze Box (TV, laser and IR system).
Sonar: MGK-355 Medium and high frequences (M/HF) Platina integrated sonar system with NATO 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-defense. For Type 956A, an improved MGK-355MS Platina is carried, which include hull mounted array, VDS, and towed array, with NATO reporting name
s Bull Nose / Mare Tail / Steer Hide respectively. It's reported that Type 956EM will be equipped with the successor of MGK-355/355MS, the MGK-355TA integrated sonar system which includes both the hull mounted and towed arrays (with NATO reporting name
Horse Jaw & Horse Tail respectively).
(PLAN) had two modified Sovremenniy destroyers delivered in December 1999 and November 2000. In 2002, the PLAN ordered two improved versions designated 956-EM. The first vessel was launched in late 2005, while the second is due to launch in 2006. China's acquisition of Sovremenniy class destroyers caused widespread concern among its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific, most especially Taiwan, regarded by Beijing as a renegade province.
On the improved Project 956EM the aft AK-130 main gun was removed. The four AK-630 CIWS were replaced by two sets of Kashtan 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) and two SA-N-11 air defence missiles. The missile is armed with a 9 kg warhead and has a range of 1.5~8 km. This improved 956EM version is also the first to be armed with the newer version of SS-N-22, which reported has 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 to 200 km. The air defense software is upgraded to accommodate the newer SA-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 as the mid-2006) added atop of the superstructures of the Chinese ships appearing in latest photographs of the Chinese units have shown that these Chinese ships had been upgraded with the domestic HN-900 Data link
(Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded) and SATCOM
(probably the SNTI-240).
PLAN
China reportedly also holds the option to purchase an additional two Project 956EM in the future, but this now seems unlikely, as China can already build warships more advanced than the Sovremenny class as of 2005 when new classes of 052 series DDG was launched.
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
of the Russian Navy. Soviet designation for the class was Project 956 Sarych (Buzzard).
Its primary role is to attack enemy warships while also providing sea and air defense for warships and transports under escort. It complements the Udaloy-class
Udaloy class destroyer
The Udaloy I class are a series of anti-submarine destroyers built for the Soviet Navy, eight of which are currently in service with the Russian Navy. The Russian designation is Project 1155 Fregat...
destroyers in anti-submarine operations.
History
Spruance class destroyer
The Spruance-class destroyer was developed by the United States to replace a large number of World War II-built Allen M. Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers, and was the primary destroyer built for the U.S. Navy during the 1970s....
multirole 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 only twelve remain in service due to lack of funds and trained personnel. All the ships were built by Severnaya Verf
Severnaya Verf
Severnaya Verf is a shipyard in Saint Petersburg and major shipyard producing both naval and civilian ships. Originally was founded exclusively for military shipbuilding....
190 St. Petersburg.
These ships have a maximum displacement of 7,940 t. Dimensions are: Length 156 m, Beam 17.3 m and draught is 6.5 m. They are armed with an anti-submarine helicopter, 44 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 3M80 version of Moskit
Moskit
The P-270 Moskit is a Russian supersonic ramjet powered cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M80, and its NATO reporting name is SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile system was designed by the Raduga Design Bureau during the 1970s as a follow up to the "SS-N-9 Siren"...
anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
, and its successor, the Project 956A, which is armed with improved 3M80M version of Moskit
Moskit
The P-270 Moskit is a Russian supersonic ramjet powered cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M80, and its NATO reporting name is SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile system was designed by the Raduga Design Bureau during the 1970s as a follow up to the "SS-N-9 Siren"...
anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
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 People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
was the latest development of this class.
Command and control
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.Missiles
The ship is outfitted with the Raduga MoskitMoskit
The P-270 Moskit is a Russian supersonic ramjet powered cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M80, and its NATO reporting name is SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile system was designed by the Raduga Design Bureau during the 1970s as a follow up to the "SS-N-9 Siren"...
anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
system with two four-cell launchers installed port and starboard of the forward island and set at an angle about 15°. The ship carries a total of eight Moskit 3M80E missiles, NATO designation SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile is a sea-skimming missile with velocity of Mach 2.5, armed with a 300 kg high-explosive or a nuclear 200 kt warhead. The range is from 10 to 120 km. The launch weight is 4,000 kg.
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 the SA-N-7, NATO reporting name Gadfly.(From the 9th ship onwards, same launcher is used for SA-17Grizzly/ SA-N-12Yezh.) 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 against targets with speeds up to 830 m/s. The ship carries 48 Shtil missiles.
Guns
French 100 mm naval gun
Modern French 100 mm naval guns are multipurpose artillery pieces , capable of a high rate of fire. Most modern French warships are equipped with one of its versions.-History:...
or the Italian OTO-Melara 127 mm/54, but faster than the US Mark 45.
The ship has four six-barreled 30 mm AK-630
AK-630
The AK-630 is a Soviet fully automatic naval close-in weapon system based on a six-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles and other...
artillery 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 latest Sovremennys carry the CADS-N-1 Kashtan CIWS system instead of AK-630.
Anti submarine systems
RBU-1000
The RBU-1000 Smerch-3 is a 300 mm caliber Russian anti-submarine and anti-torpedo rocket launcher. It entered service around 1962-1963. It is similar in operation to the Hedgehog system used during the Second World War. The RBU-1000 is remotely aimed by the Burya fire control system...
anti-submarine rocket launchers, with 48 rockets. Range is 1,000 m The rocket is armed with a 55 kg warhead.
Helicopter
The ship's helicopter pad accommodates one Kamov Ka-27Kamov Ka-27
|-See also:-External links:*...
anti-submarine warfare helicopter, NATO codename Helix. The helicopter can operate in conditions up to Sea State 5 and up to 200 km from the host ship.
Countermeasures
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.Sensors
ESM
-Science and technology:* Earth System Model, a highly advanced form of Global climate model* Election Stock Market* Electron Scanning Microscope* Electronic Support Measures, the military technique of tactical electronic intelligence gathering...
are many: 2 ESM MR-410 or MP-405; 2 ECM MRP-11M or 12M ('Bell Shroud'), 2 'Bell Squat', 4 'Foot-ball B' and one MR-407; 2 PK-2M rocket launchers (140 mm), and 8 PK-10 (120 mm), 2-8 laser-warning systems Spektr-F, one Squeeze Box (TV, laser and IR system).
Sonar: MGK-355 Medium and high frequences (M/HF) Platina integrated sonar system with NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
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-defense. For Type 956A, an improved MGK-355MS Platina is carried, which include hull mounted array, VDS, and towed array, with NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
s Bull Nose / Mare Tail / Steer Hide respectively. It's reported that Type 956EM will be equipped with the successor of MGK-355/355MS, the MGK-355TA integrated sonar system which includes both the hull mounted and towed arrays (with NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
Horse Jaw & Horse Tail respectively).
Propulsion
The ship's propulsion system is based on two steam turbine engines each producing 50,000 hp together with four high-pressure boilers. There are two fixed-pitch propellers. The ship's maximum speed is just under 33 knots. At a fuel-economic speed of 18 knots the range is 3,920 miles. Several ships of this class suffered from problems regarding their propulsion system that were so severe that they had to be retired.PLA(N) variants
The Chinese People's Liberation Army NavyPeople's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
(PLAN) had two modified Sovremenniy destroyers delivered in December 1999 and November 2000. In 2002, the PLAN ordered two improved versions designated 956-EM. The first vessel was launched in late 2005, while the second is due to launch in 2006. China's acquisition of Sovremenniy class destroyers caused widespread concern among its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific, most especially Taiwan, regarded by Beijing as a renegade province.
On the improved Project 956EM the aft AK-130 main gun was removed. The four AK-630 CIWS were replaced by two sets of Kashtan CIWS
Kashtan CIWS
The Kashtan Close-in weapon system is a modern naval air defence gun-missile system deployed by the Russian Navy.It is found on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, Kirov class battlecruisers, Neustrashimy class, People's Liberation Army Navy Sovremenny class destroyers and Indian Talwar...
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) and two SA-N-11 air defence missiles. The missile is armed with a 9 kg warhead and has a range of 1.5~8 km. This improved 956EM version is also the first to be armed with the newer version of SS-N-22, which reported has 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 to 200 km. The air defense software is upgraded to accommodate the newer SA-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 as the mid-2006) added atop of the superstructures of the Chinese ships appearing in latest photographs of the Chinese units have shown that these Chinese ships had been upgraded with the domestic HN-900 Data link
Data link
In telecommunication a data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information. It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a receiver and the interconnecting data telecommunication circuit...
(Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded) and SATCOM
SATCOM
SATCOM or Satcom may refer to:* Short for Satellite Communications and used frequently in the context of VSAT * Communications satellites or comsats...
(probably the SNTI-240).
- Project cost: 600 million US$United States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
(mid-1990s price) was the price paid by ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for Project 956A (two ships), and 1.5 Billion US$United States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
(early-2000's price) for Project 956EM (two ships).
Ships
Soviet/Russian navies
- Sovremennyy - Современный -Modern (1980),
decommissioned in 1998, scrapped in 2003 - Otchayanny - Отчаянный - Desperate (1982),
decommissioned in 1998 - Otlichnyy - Отличный - Excellent (1983),
decommissioned in 1998 - Osmotritelnyy - Осмотрительный - Circumspect (1984),
decommissioned in 1997 - Bezuprechnyy - Безупречный - Impeccable (1985),
decommissioned in 2003 - Boyevoy - Боевой - Militant (1986) -
Status unclear (non-active) - Stoykiy - Стойкий - Steadfast (1986),
decommissioned in 1998 - Okrylennyy - Окрылённый - Winged (1987),
decommissioned in 1998, scrapped in 1999 - Burnyy - Бурный - Fiery (or Impetuous) (1988)
- Status unclear (non-active) - Bystryy (715) - Быстрый -Quick (or Rapid) (30.9.1989) -
In Service, Pacific Fleet - Rastoropnyy - Расторопный -Prompt (1989) -
Status unclear (non-active) - Bezboyaznennyy - Безбоязненный -Intrepid (or Fearless) (1990) -
Status unclear (non-active) - Gremyashchiy (406) - Гремящий - Thunderous (originally Vedushchiy - Ведущий - Leading) (25.6.1991) -
In Service, Northern Fleet - Bezuderzhnyy -Безудержный - Impetuous (or Unstoppable) (1991) -
Status unclear (non-active) - Bespokoynyy (620) - Беспокойный -Restless (28.12.1991)
In Service, Baltic Fleet - Nastoychivyy (610) - Настойчивый Persistent (originally Moskovskiy Komsomolets) (30.12.1992)
In Service, Baltic Fleet - Admiral Ushakov (434)- (originally Besstrashnyy - Бесстрашный Fearless) (30.12.1993)
In Service, Northern Fleet
PLANPeople's Liberation Army NavyThe People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
- Vazhnyy - Важный - Eminent (Hangzhou (136) - 杭州 - sold to China before completion)
- Vdumchivyy - Вдумчивый - Thoughtful (Fuzhou (137) - 福州 - sold to China before completion)
- Taizhou (138) - 泰州 - improved 956EM built for China. (2005)
- Ningbo (139)- 宁波 - improved 956EM built for China (2006)
China reportedly also holds the option to purchase an additional two Project 956EM in the future, but this now seems unlikely, as China can already build warships more advanced than the Sovremenny class as of 2005 when new classes of 052 series DDG was launched.
External links
- http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=100188 - page on these ships in Russian language
- http://home19.inet.tele.dk/airwing/ships/sovremen.htm - article in English
- http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/956.htm - article in English from FAS
- http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/sovremenny.asp All Russian Sovremenny Class Destroyers - Complete Ship List