Sovremenny class

The Sovremenny class, Soviet designation Project 956 Sarych (buzzard), is a class of anti-ship and anti-aircraft guided-missile destroyers of the Soviet and later Russian Navy. The ships are named after qualities, with "Sovremenny" translating as "modern" or "contemporary". All of the Russian ships have been retired from active service and one converted into a museum ship in 2018. Four modified ships (two Project 956E and two Project 956EM) were delivered to the People's Liberation Army Navy, and remain in service. Those four ships were also refitted as multipurpose destroyers with more modern Chinese-made sensors and vertical launching system (VLS) along with the latest generation of Chinese-made weaponry during their midlife modernization.

The Sovremenny class are guided-missile destroyers, primarily tasked with anti-ship warfare, while also providing sea and air defense for warships and transports under escort. The class was designed to be complemented by the Udaloy-class destroyers, which were fitted primarily for anti-submarine operations.