?HANGZHOU/SOVREMENNY?China struck an $800 million deal to purchase two unfinished Sovremenny-class destroyers from Russia in ’96. Both hulls were finally completed in St. Petersburg and launched in ’99. The first hull was delivered at the end of ’99 and sailed to China early in 2000. She was commissioned as the Hangzhou(pennant 136). The Sovremenny’s claim to fame is the SS-N-22 supersoinc surface-to-surface missiles. Dubbed “Aegis killers,” these missiles were not delivered with the ship, but will be delivered in the later part of 2000. Also, the dozen Ka-27 Helix ASW helicopters have yet to be delivered. Together with her sister ship, the Hangzhou is the largest surface combatant in the PLAN inventory, and the most powerful ship capable of conducting operations on the surface, in the air, and below surface, while providing credible self-defense at the same time. Because of this PLAN acquisition, the ROCN has desperately requested the US approval for purchase of Aegis destroyers.

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