Project 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyer

The Project 956E and 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyers are Russian-built export guided-missile destroyers delivered to the People's Liberation Army Navy in two batches. The first pair were the 956E variant, and the later pair were the improved 956EM ships with updated combat systems and revised weapon fits for Chinese service.

Project 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyer, Russian-built guided-missile destroyers exported to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Naval Systems

Image source: PLANS Hangzhou (DDG-136) 20230220.jpg

Chinese Export Batch

Open-source references describe the Chinese order as two closely related batches: Hangzhou and Fuzhou as Project 956E ships, then Taizhou and Ningbo as improved Project 956EM ships. The later pair received revised combat systems and, in published references, a different fit of close-in and air-defense equipment.

Batch	Ships	Noted difference
Project 956E	Hangzhou, Fuzhou	First two Chinese deliveries in 1999 and 2000.
Project 956EM	Taizhou, Ningbo	Improved export variant delivered in 2005 and 2006.

Profile

Origin: Russia / China
Built by: Severnaya Verf
Built in: Russia
Type: Russian-built guided-missile destroyers exported to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy
Service note: Delivered to China between 1999 and 2006
Produced: 1996-2006
Number built: 4 for China
Variants: Project 956E, Project 956EM

Also Known As

Project 956E
Project 956EM
Sovremenny-class destroyer
Sovremenny class destroyer
Chinese Sovremenny-class destroyers
PLAN Sovremenny-class destroyers

destroyer guided-missile destroyer naval

Specifications

Displacement: About 7,900 tonnes full load
Length: About 156.5 m
Beam: About 17.2 m
Draft: About 5.2 m
Propulsion: Steam-turbine machinery
Speed: About 32 knots
Main armament: 8 P-270 Moskit anti-ship missiles
Air defense: 2 twin launchers for SA-N-7 or SA-N-12 class missiles, depending on variant

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: China acquired four ships: Hangzhou and Fuzhou as Project 956E destroyers, followed by Taizhou and Ningbo as Project 956EM destroyers. The class remained in PLAN service after later refits.
Used by: People's Liberation Army Navy

Project 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyer Images

Project 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyer, Russian-built guided-missile destroyers exported to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: PLANS Taizhou (DDG-138).jpg

Project 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyer, Russian-built guided-missile destroyers exported to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Naval Systems - view 2 — Source: PLANS Taizhou (DDG-138).jpg

Project 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyer, Russian-built guided-missile destroyers exported to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Naval Systems - view 3 — Source: PLAN destroyer Sovremenny bridge.jpg

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Sources

Project 956 (Sovremenny)Publisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports the Project 956EM designation for the Chinese order, the four-ship delivery timeline, the Severnaya Verf build context, and key configuration details such as propulsion, displacement, and missile fit. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Sovremenny - People's Liberation Army NavyPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the 956E and 956EM split, the four Chinese destroyers delivered between 1999 and 2006, and the export-role background for the PLAN ships. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 PLANS Hangzhou (DDG-136) 20230220.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the lead image of a Sovremenny-class destroyer in Chinese service. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 PLANS Taizhou (DDG-138).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a Project 956EM destroyer in Chinese service. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 PLANS Taizhou (DDG-138) 20150817.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for another view of a Project 956EM destroyer. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 PLAN destroyer Sovremenny bridge.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for a close-up image of a Chinese Sovremenny-class destroyer. | Accessed: 2026-06-25