Project 956 "Sovremenny"-class Destroyer
Zvezda/Dragon with 3D and PE upgrades

The Project 956 Sovremenny-class guided missile destroyer (DDG) can trace it´s roots back to a 1960s requirement for an escort vessel for amphibious fleets, but became the air-defence component of the last two destroyer classes constructed in the Soviet Union (the other being the ASW-orientated Usaloy-class). First ships of the class were launched in the late 70s, entering fleet service in the 80s. While many were decomissioned/placed in indefinate storage after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, some were still completed in the early 90s and are partially still serving with the Russian Navy. An improved export variant without the rear turret was built for China in the late 90s (Project 956EM) which is also still in service alongside two 956Es imported from Russia.

Some of the major fleet units of the late Cold War era may not be as common modelling subjects as the more famous battleships of WW2 but present very interesting subjects upon closer inspection. While sometimes described as "grey blocks", the huge variety of antenna-mounts, radars and other systems gives o plethora of details to be recreated in a model. Thus, I will upgrade the Zvezda/Dragon Sovremenny with the following:

1) WEM photoetchfor the class (Masts, air search radar etc.)

2) Veteran Models AK-130 main battery turrets and "Kite Screech" main battery control radar

3) Upgraded AK-360 CIWS + radars and decoy launchers, both from Heavy Hobby

4) Some sort of better Ka-27 ASW helicopter. I have one from a 1/700 Trumpeter kit which might be appropriate.

5) The RBU-1000 ASWRL from Heavy Hobby