Need opinion from naval experts here

Based on the other thread, there seems to be a good resource of that here.

I need an opinion on the following. These are CGI recreations based on the photos and eyewitness accounts on the ongoing construction of the PLAN 170 DDG destroyer at the Jiangnan shipyards in Shanghai.

I need an explanation on the four hatches amidships as in this picture.

Are these some kind of smaller VLS base SAMs?

The rotary VLS launchers appear identical to the one the Shiyan 970 used. This is a test ship where both a Russian style rotary VLS and a US style modular VLS launcher is fitted and tested. Photos have indicated that both rear and front rotary launchers appear in place in the 170.

Based on the four PARs, the leading contender is a new Chinese VLS missile called HHQ-9 based on the HQ-9/FT-2000, itself probably patterned after the 5V55R missile (S-300PMU). The RIF-M is still a possiblity, but current wisdom is that the RIF-Ms might be fitted on two even larger vessels (051C?) under construction in another city.

Based on the size, what kind of AshMs would be used?

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Progress on the 168 is more clearer. The last month or two was a deluge of information that showed Front Dome (four initially installed, two more added, now six); SA-N-12 (photographically confirmed); Top Plate; and what appears to be Band Stand or Garpun radar.

There are many debates going on what will the ship’s final AshMs going to be, with:

1.) Moskit—leading contender because of Bandstand radar. However, this missile might be too big to fit amidships.

2.) C-803—there appears to be suspected stands for AshM launchers that fit its size. But the ships are not fitted with the Chinese Type 374-G radar used for this missile.

3.) YJ-12 (Chinese supersonic AshM under development)

4.) Uran-Switchblade. Interesting possibilty but this missile does not offer anything over the C-803, which exceeds it in range and warhead size.

5.) Klub

6.) C-804 (improved C-803)