China's PLAN Upgrading its Project 956E Destroyers with VLS and YJ-12A Anti-Ship Missiles.

The pictures show first ship of the class Hangzhou (136) and Fuzhou (137) moored at the PLAN naval shipyard 4806 in Zhoushan (a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province of Eastern China) at different stage in the upgrade. Hangzhou has many of its systems removed including the main gun, sensors and masts, missile launchers (both SAM and ASM).

According to Navy Recognition sources, the upgrade program for all four ships of the class should see:
- All original electronic systems and sensors replaced by modern Chinese ones.
- The two 3S90 (Uragan) unitary launchers for 9M38 surface to air missiles are getting replaced by a couple of Vertical Launch Systems (2x4 or possibly 2x8 cells) forward and aft. The missiles will likely be the HQ-16C, the latest variant of the HQ-16 naval SAM missile.
- The two KT-190 quadruple launchers for 3M80E (P-270 Moskit or NATO designation SS-N-22 Sunburn) are likely being replaced by YJ-12A missiles.

The YJ-12A is a next generation Chinese supersonic anti-ship missile. It was unveiled for the first time last year during the victory day parade.

Last but not least, the Project 956E should retain their AK-130 main guns forward and aft.