Chinese Navy Upgrades its Sovremenny Destroyers with Formidable New Missiles!

We discuss recent upgrades by the PLA Navy to two of its four Sovremenny class destroyers, acquired from Russia in the early 2000s. This new derivative is capable of medium-range air defence. The upgrade is a key investment for the PLA Navy to boost its surface assets.
REFERENCES
nationalintere...
thediplomat.co...
www.globaltime...
Keywords: Project 956 Sarych, Project 956EM, Project 956E, YJ-12, HHQ-16, HQ-16, PLAN, naval modernisation, modern warships, China, Chinese military, PLA watching, AK-130 naval gun, defence, cruise missiles, area air defence, Russian Navy
#chinesenavy
#chinaarmy
#pla

[@dsong2006]

basically it got brought up to the level of a 054A frigate in the anti air role but with greater anti ship capabilities. Goes to show how far Chinese naval ship have come in the last 20 years

[@EurasiaNaval]

That's a succinct way to put the upgrades basically - air defence of a 054A frigate plus the anti-ship firepower of a modern PLAN destroyer

[@panyimao]

In terms of technology, except for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the manufacturing of aircraft carriers has not yet begun, and it is already the world's first in any field. The Navy needs time to give China fifteen or twenty years to appear the most powerful fleet in human history.

[@davidmoss2576]

@@panyimao At current rate I say the PLAN will achieve that by 2034.

[@Strategy_Analysis]

With the PLAN adding significant numbers of new and very capable ships such as the Type 055 and Type 052D, the fact that they are also prepared to expend considerable resources on upgrading the Sovremenny (at least the first 2), is an important indicator!

[@EurasiaNaval]

The amount of dockyard capacity and resources at PLAN's disposal is incredible

[@frankfleming1103]

@WAFFLE123 The most important thing is that China does not have Sovremenny related drawings (Russia will not provide), so China have to survey first, and then upgrading. It takes too long time, but if not upgrade, China have to throw it away cause it was backwards

[@jamesbugbee9026]

The PRC from earliest times was well-versed in refitting old ships, ex-enemy ships, ex-sunken ships, just about anything that can B made 2 float; communist forms of accounting nevergot in the way of 'waste not, want not'. Sovremenny ships R the last iteration of some of Russia's most beautiful (Kresta II class) steam-turbine 'Large anti-submarine ships'

[@AngelAngel-pc5mc]

​@@frankfleming1103the other two will not be modified as it was not worthy

[@duyataksis5210]

I really like your content but I'd like to bring something to your attention. When you refer to Chinese media as "Chinese state media", you play into the West's hands by employing their demeaning rhetoric - you'll notice that PBS, BBC, DW, etc. are never referred to as American, British, or German state media. Perhaps consider using the neutral term "Chinese media."

[@EurasiaNaval]

I have never noticed this fact until you mentioned it - We actually don't refer to BBC and DW as state media for some reason... even though that is what they are

[@duyataksis5210]

@@EurasiaNaval You can go down a rabbit hole looking into all the rhetorical devices the West uses to disseminate their propaganda. One of their favourite devices is dual terms - one set of "respectable" terms for themselves like "administration" and "public broadcaster", and another set for their adversaries like "regime" and "state media." Point that out and they'll accuse you of "moral equivalence"; perfectly predictable.

[@alexlo7708]

They accustom to their definition that "state media" does not play around bitchy fake news like those in the western brothel medias.

[@WSOJ3]

Exactly. Also CNN/MSNBC/Fox are technically partisan media, but no one calls them propaganda outlet, which they are.

[@fredsaga3708]

The thing is, Chinese media are basically all state-owned or state sponsored, that's part of the system. And in the west political ideology or propaganda or whatever you name it, state is the insitution of brainwashing people and controlling people's mind. Such a notion is so pervasive in the west so that using the term "state media" is a subtle but effective way to discredit all information about China not generated by western media. And the purpose is pretty obvious, which is indeed to control people's mind by western media, which are basically all onwed or sponsored by private capital. Guess what, we have being living in a modern world where it is the private capital, not the state, that is the number one subject to control people's mind. Anyway, good observation.

[@dennyliu7494]

It shows how good a student China is, a student that outshines its teacher and becomes more innovative and creative than his teacher.

[@riceball4u172]

That's Every good teacher's dream except for those insecure teachers who only want themselves to shine.

[@leecheong4986]

China should use these 4 old but upgraded destroyers for coastal defence. Then there is the 052(2), 052B(2), 052C(4) all 8 of them can be used for further offshore defence forming second layer of defence. Then there are the 25 units of 052D which can add another layer of defence further out perhaps just east of Taiwan all the way to the Philippines stretching north to Japan and South Korea. The coming 10 units of 052DL can be green/blue water defence. Then the 055, all 8 units (plus another 8 incoming) will be the true blue water defence, all the way to Guam and even Hawaii. China, now has 45 destroyers with another 18 coming soon. This will bring the destroyers number to 63 by 2025. By 2030, with an increased defence budget, China’s destroyer could easily reach 81. Then China will be a true naval power that the Americans will find it extremely difficult to dislodge.

[@joshanderson7358]

The Great Wave of China is in full swing. 🇨🇳

[@sampanvikingonchina2613]

Its really good to see these lovely Iconic all Warhorses being brought up to date for hopefully another ten years worth of service. With all the talk of serious trouble in the East and South China Sea's within the next five years, you can easily understand the attraction of getting these old girls back up to speed.

[@commie5211]

East China sea is within range of dozens of China's land air base. It is idoitic to pick such location imo, but south China sea is a different story. However i still think the more even matched the two parties are the more unlikely conflicts are going to happen.

[@lxjilyfe]

our "know how to save money" ability is second to none on this planet lol

[@JD-dm1uj]

The Sovremenny and Udaloy Class Destroyers were workhorse ships for the Soviet Navy and throughout the later portion of the Cold War. Excellent updates by the PRC, though I’m surprised they didn’t go with the YJ-18 vice the 12s, and a longer range SAM, 200KM+ to complete the mix between the intermediate and short-to-mid range options that they included. I’m sure they were likely limited given the hull and what they had to work with. The AK-130s are so iconic and they remain beasts to this day, ahead of their time, glad they kept them. I expect China to go all in on their next destroyer, I expect it to be a juggernaut. Very interesting video, you do amazing work narrating and creating outstanding content.

[@alexlo7708]

Long range SAM needs wide aperture radar in which this destroyer has not plenty area to do so. Their radar mast fits the old moving radar.

[@EurasiaNaval]

I think it is no coincidence that the YJ-12 is the preferred anti-ship weapon for upgrading older destroyers, and to augment the exported frigates (Type 054A/P). The YJ-12 can be installed in deck canisters that take up about the same space per missile as the YJ-83, which is generally the predecessor that needed to be replaced. As for the YJ-18, I have only seen them being housed in full-sized universal VLS on the Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers. YJ-18 is slightly longer than the YJ-12 including the booster. Perhaps the YJ-18 has deck launchers available too, but I haven't seen any. I believe the new VLS of the Sovremenny class is the smaller frigate version that houses only the HQ-16 and Yu-8 ASROC (I could be wrong). That could explain why the YJ-18 isn't used. Thanks for support!

[@EurasiaNaval]

Yeah, as Alex said - the ship's radar cannot fully exploit long-range SAM, which suggest the PLAN wouldn't have considered it worthwhile to install HQ-9 capable VLS on the class. They likely went with the frigate version instead.

[@JD-dm1uj]

Great responses, that’s what makes this site great, the content and the discussions.

[@user-ku6bv4ni2f]

YJ12 with its weight and size is currently the preferred missle for upgrading older but considerably sized vessels. The issue with upgrading the Sovremenny is that those old Soviet-era ships are quite outdated on their designs and any upgrade that affects the hull is costly but importantly time consuming (which can be seen from how long it took the two ships to be refitted even at its current rearmament). It's quite clear that Sovermenny along with other slightly older but still capable destroyers (such as the 052B and 051B) are being phased out and their roles are closer to a 'frigate leader'

[@captaintomato5433]

Whilst significantly inferior to modern destroyers in almost all respects, I still adore the look of the older WW2 and Cold War vessels. Whilst there are practical and very important reasons behind the designs of recent naval vessels like the Arleigh Burke or the Type 055, it's a bit of a shame that we've lost those beautiful sloping bows, those sleep decks, and the castlelike superstructures for the much blockier contemporary anti-radar designs.

[@geopoliticsjunkie4114]

Thanks for information I always liked the Sovremenny class.

[@timothy1949]

not sure why they kept the 4 AK630, they would have been better off removing them and put a 1130 or 730 at the rear with the HQ10 at the front.

[@ryanhuang3875]

This would procie the best direct fire support for amphibious operation

[@timothy1949]

@@ryanhuang3875 u seem to confused AK630 with AK-130. but anyway, i think modern amphibious operation would be quite different from the past, there shouldn't be much static defenses for you to hit, or they would have been taken out by rockets and missiles long before you get into gun range

[@thetruthhurts9750]

China is improving at a rapid pace.

[@noebas013]

Wow next BP ship Modern Warship 😮

[@babyshark4734]

Would love to see Plan fleets seperately ❤

[@barriewright2857]

Very impressive and i can understand the PLA reason for the changes. When you move into a knew house you never like the previous owner's decorations and layouts so you bring in your own changes.

[@Ottovonostbahnhof]

这四艘船的改装真的是耗时耗力，第一艘2015年进船厂大改，19年才出来，花了四年。后面还有两艘在排队呢。8000吨的舰体，4000吨的战斗力，头疼啊头疼！

[@EurasiaNaval]

True - it took a while, but we can't be sure they were working on the ships the entire time

[@hohohohoho262]

新三年 旧三年 缝缝补补又三年 咱又不能印绿纸 省着点花没错

[@远山-k3s]

我觉得后面两艘都不一定改了吧，要换雷达不如造新的了……看到莫斯科号的遭遇，不如近海防御了……

[@Ottovonostbahnhof]

@@远山-k3s 就是鸡肋的感觉，8000吨的大舰，花大价钱大修，防空能力相当于054A，反舰能力不如052D，没有对陆攻击能力，进博物馆又太可惜。唯一优点，就是靠马力足舰体重，可以跟日本海自玩碰碰船。

[@25priaulx52]

当年娶人家进门的时候叫人家小甜甜，现在叫人家牛夫人哈哈哈

[@edwardzhang8667]

Great vid as always!

[@EurasiaNaval]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@oklahoma1232]

Self reliance when possible/ up dates/ increased fire power, USA it as a training vessel . From old to capable !

[@tgsgardenmaintenance4627]

These vessels were basically a modern day battleship, designed to destroy other warships. I'm guessing that were in good shipkeeping order, to warrent upgrades. Especially considering the ability of China to construct modern warships at a pace unmatched by anyone else in the world!

[@multipolarworldorder]

What anti submarine capability have the upgraded Sovremenny class destroyers on board?

[@EurasiaNaval]

For armament, there should be the Yu8 ASW missile, 2 double-tube torpedo launchers, and the old Russian RBU depth charge launchers. There is a single ka-28 helo. On the sonars, I am not too sure tbh, because the PLAN may have upgraded the systems over the years

[@multipolarworldorder]

@@EurasiaNaval Thank You. Kind Regards.

[@FahrurRoziqin]

6:20 Looked like Old technology, but having super high rate of fire, also i don't know that's cannon was that advanced in targeting system too

[@davidmoss2576]

Holy shit the Chinese basically paid $500m for a shell of Russian destroyer. The upgrades were definitely much needed. Do the Russian still operate these vessels as is?

[@lktan224]

Where did you get the information of $500 billions?

[@akiyamayusuke]

Actually, the remaining two will not receive upgrades because doing so would cost more than building new, stronger ships from scratch.

[@divermikesmith6172]

great vid! Still not gonna post it on SDF...

[@EurasiaNaval]

Haha, posters on SDF are so knowledgeable on the PLAN it's a little scary actually. I frequent Russian and Pak defence forums, but the level of understanding of naval systems are not quite at the level of SDF.

[@CB-kc6hw]

It is very good ship air defence and attack capabilities vety very nkce

[@spartannerd1]

is the HQ-9B semi-active homing? I thought I have seen reports that it is active homing

[@dadidadida123]

active homing. 052C and D doesn’t need Illuminator like spg-62.

[@theincrediblecaliph7912]

He said the HQ-16 is SARH. The HQ/HHQ-9 series are ofc all ARH..

[@EurasiaNaval]

I've seen conflicting info on whether HQ-9 is SARH or active homing - I'll consider both viewpoints next time.

[@spartannerd1]

@@EurasiaNaval it might be newish. I was watching a Binkov video and at the 2021 Zhuhai airshow they showed a H-Q9B with active homing for export

[@rael5469]

0:01 Is that a Rolling Airframe Missile launcher on the front of 136 ?

[@nafisfuadayon6832]

Similar Chinese weapon HQ-10.

[@rael5469]

@@nafisfuadayon6832 They have beautiful ships that look very capable.

[@nafisfuadayon6832]

@@rael5469 I agree with you.

[@MarvinChenFantasy]

I know it's not quite possible, but it will be quite amuzing if China build a battlewaggon.

[@jayfelsberg1931]

I'll bet the PLAN loved those stem plants.

[@mmmmmmmwww]

四大金刚 maybe there's best better translation than four diamonds

[@EurasiaNaval]

Hmmm true - the four gundams

[@mmmmmmmwww]

@@EurasiaNaval 😄

[@zhe8586]

Four donkey kongs. Lol

[@jayfelsberg1931]

The AK-630 was the Moscova;s primary anti-missile defense.......

[@aphrodo1688]

视频做的不错，能不能做一些军舰子系统之类的呢，比如燃气轮机，雷达，作战指挥系统，通用垂发，导弹，火炮，因为我感觉如果是现代军舰的话，资源很快就没了🤣🤣

[@EurasiaNaval]

Haha... I am keen to cover more specific items like missiles, CIWS, and naval guns, but only those that have wide interests. Stuff like radars and the type of steel used to build submarines are a bit too niche and specific. Thanks for raising the concern though - limitation in topics is an issue I am aware of. That said, we have not even covered things like ASBMs, Beidou systems, and A2AD, or even PLAN strategy all that much. Plus there are topics from other countries, and comparing PLAN systems with them!

[@raygan777able]

Those are good for surface combat. They still lack in submarine technology. That will be their weakest link.

[@zakkrick]

They have submarine technology, surely theyre added. No destroyer should go to battle without any submarine missile or ant-submarine missile

[@Trojan0304]

Was subdivisions improved?

[@EurasiaNaval]

There's no credible rumours on that one (or official info). My guess is it would be quite unlikely given the structural changes needed, for either the number of watertight bulkheads or independent fire zones.

[@redbull1826]

Do a vid about the kirov

[@EurasiaNaval]

I haven't forgot about Russian content, and will get back to them soon. I can't promise the Kirov for now though, because I honestly don't know much about it - I need to do research before opening my mouth haha.

[@zakkrick]

You have a lot of your destroyers and you take someone’s else leftover and then upgrade and rebuild them with your own weapons without having to build a whole destroyer

[@commie5211]

现代级没有刷祖传红漆😶

[@EurasiaNaval]

很不現代哦...

[@25priaulx52]

We can sell these four ships back to RU.

[@Davenport1949]

well, it's not a "key" investment. it's a pity investment.

[@xxxxxxxGTR]

Don't worry, these are just some big fishing boats. Seafood in the Pacific Ocean is delicious.

[@joshanderson7358]

Very delicious indeed.

[@王柳杰]

现在四艘现代和搭载俄制体系的两艘052b真的有点鸡肋，现代被改成054plus，两艘052b又不能与自用系统兼容，舰龄才不到20年……

[@MrLuhuazhao]

sad the russians are not able to build these any more.

[@edwardtang1977]

force mutiplier ship 815 ship is what US fears.

[@SergioLuizCardosodeSouzaJunior]

Compro 80.000 navios dessa classe para a marinha da Ucrânia

[@Buzzard23100]

这是土澳口啊🤔

[@EurasiaNaval]

是台灣口

[@远山-k3s]

@@EurasiaNaval 真假……台湾地区的客观up那可珍稀了，要保护……

[@aunggabe]

In the near future we will see Chinese PLA NAVY deploy light weight,3500 tons fast , stealth unmanned ships armed with hypersonic missiles. Given the better A.I advantages including 6G, Quantum technology, space technology provided by Russia, combined navigation system; Beidou+ Glonass, having required materials and fund, patriotic determination against U.S will make China and Russia more successful. Perfect Team will dominate the world but hope they will not behave like Anglo-Saxons war mongering. Declining economy, stagnant technology, very unpopular international relation, corrupted immoral politicians , devalued dollar will keep dragging west while there is no limit for China and Russia Team will be way ahead in space A.I and will be used for military purposes which I am afraid. The epic center of WW3 if there was shall be at U.S. The end of petrodollar is the beginning of major fall of U.S. Will no longer be printed anymore. U.S will have to earn. Much much less budgets on Ministry of Offence. no money, no game.

[@teanchaiploytumsong6108]

Thailand

[@michaelwong4303]

Yes, needs to upgrade upgrade upgrade the air defence hardware otherwise another Neptune will finish it.....

[@25.muh.siswadibudiartodani88]

Indonesia suddenly wakes up: *chuckles* I'm in danger Also Indonesia: *TURU* (fall asleep again) Turu = sleep in Javanese

[@regizeelement8511]

Why in danger? China is friendly to friendly countries

[@25.muh.siswadibudiartodani88]

@@regizeelement8511 well, you haven't seen their activites in Natuna. Their ships from fishing ships and coast guard ships to large destroyers were trespassing our waters, threatening pur sovereignty. They were also building military bases too close to Natuna

[@alexchan5454]

那不是用来对付你们的

[@frankfleming1103]

@@25.muh.siswadibudiartodani88 your waters, how to proof its your waters? your brain is full of shit

[@VashtheStampede007]

Should have just sold them back to Russia 😂. Use the money for more 055. Or maybe Vietnam wants more of them.

[@chintongyeung4051]

No

[@United_Free_East_Asian_Front]

四大金刚的翻译......笑死

[@martinklanecky7281]

?!!!

[@gauden7785]

THey are just old ships, with so much rusting. I don't think they can make any risk for American navy.

[@binzhang]

Hahahah so funny!

[@calvinblue894]

Trump made China great again...

[@regizeelement8511]

High wait…. That’s your name… don’t need much from china since F35 dived into sea by itself lol

[@frankfleming1103]

@@regizeelement8511 The US nuclear aircraft carrier will self-destruct by crashing into a mountain at the bottom of the sea

[@dabo5078]

You are descreibning the Zumwalt and Burkes. Their rust levels are astounding, especially for the Zumwalt.

[@kartonijiang6254]

Earcraft carrier... Ear force... 😂

[@junnel1970]

To bully smaller nation?

[@regizeelement8511]

To prevent itself and its friends from being bullied

[@EurasiaNaval]

A sword can be used to thrust or parry. It depends on how you use it

[@junnel1970]

@@EurasiaNaval but china does here in scs not good example of a niegbour.

[@EurasiaNaval]

I appreciate all points of view. I guess my channel is not supposed to be political (although it does get lots of political comments!!)

[@frankfleming1103]

@@junnel1970 your brain is full of shit, these countries is younger than China owned scs