Project 18-class destroyer
 A concept representation of Project-18 class destroyer
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Project-18 class |
| Operators |  Indian Navy |
| Preceded by | Visakhapatnam class |
| Planned | 8-10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Stealth guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | 13,000 tonnes (13,000 long tons; 14,000 short tons)[1] |
| Length | 180 meters (590 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion | Integrated Electric Propulsion (expected) |
| Armament |
|
The Next Generation Destroyers (NGD), also referred to as Project-18 destroyer (P-18), are a class of planned stealth guided-missile destroyers to be built for the Indian Navy (IN). The class will be a follow-on for Visakhapatnam-class destroyer which is in service. The class is a part of Next Generation series of future frontline surface combatants of the Indian Navy which includes the Project 17B-class frigate or Next Generation Frigates (NGF) and the Next Generation Corvettes (NGC).[4][5][6]
History
[edit]Background
[edit]In December 2023, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh revealed that a class of advanced Next Generation Destroyers (NGD) or Project 18 destroyers is being designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB).[citation needed] As of then, the design and contract signing for construction was expected to be completed by 5 years. The delivery was to be completed within 5-10 years of contract signing. The ships will have a standard displacement of 10000[4]-13000 tonnes.[2] The leading contenders for the deal were Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).[4][7][8] The project, worth over $10 billion, includes a total of around 8 ships are to be built in two phases. MDL has also floated a tender to construct a floating dry dock near Nhava Sheva port for ₹3,000 crore (equivalent to ₹32 billion or US$380 million in 2023) in 2022. This will assist them for the construction of these warships. Reports also suggested that the ships will feature an indigenous S-band primary fire control radar developed by DRDO. This will replace EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radars used on previous ships like Kolkata-class and Visakhapatnam-class destroyer. They will also feature advanced indigenous weapon systems and an integrated electric propulsion (IEP).[3][9]
The Request for Proposal (RfP) for the destroyers are expected to be released in 2025–26.[10]
As of 15 January 2025, the project is in the planning stage and implementation is expected to begin in few years.[11]
As of September 2025, the first phase of the NGD project including four 10,000 tonne destroyers are pending to be cleared by the Defence Ministry.[1]
Design
[edit]Armament
[edit]The class of warship will be equipped with 72-cell Vertical launching systems (three 6×4 configuration) at the bow, a similar 72-48 cell VLS in the aft along with 8 slant launchers (2×quad launchers) in the midship region. This implies a total of 120-144 VLS and 8 slant launchers for each ship. As per several reports, the ship will be operating surface-to-air missiles and anti-ballistic missiles (under Project Kusha) as well as surface-to-surface missiles and anti-ship missiles including VL-SRSAM, MR-SAM, PGLRSAM system, BrahMos-ER, BrahMos 2 hypersonic cruise missile, SMART and LR-LACM. These weapon systems will be equipped in Universal Vertical Launcher Modules (UVLMs). Other defence mechanisms like directed-energy weapon (DEW) and Maareech ATDS may be included.[3][2][12]
The Universal Vertical Launcher Module (UVLM) originally developed by BrahMos Aerospace-L&T for delivering BrahMos missile from Indian Naval Ships. However, the launcher system is now being integrated with other under-development missile systems like LR-LACM and SMART.[13][14][15]
See also
[edit]Other references to the Indian Navy
[edit]Other destroyers of comparable configurations and capabilities
[edit]- Ticonderoga-class cruiser – a class of guided-missile cruisers being currently operated by the United States Navy.
- DDG(X) – a class of guided-missile destroyers being currently under development by the United States Navy.
- Type 83 destroyer - a class of guided-missile destroyers being currently under development by the Royal Navy.
- Type 055 destroyer – is a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers (guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard) being constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.
- Sejong the Great-class destroyer – a class of guided-missile destroyers operated by the Republic of Korea Navy.
- Zumwalt-class destroyer - a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers operated by the United States Navy.
- KDDX-class destroyer - a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers being currently under development for Republic of Korea Navy.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "India eyes 200 warships, submarines by 2035". The Times of India. 8 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "Indian Navy to get 8 Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD)". 15 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Menon, Adithya Krishna (13 August 2023). "India Proceeds with New Submarines, Surface Ships Development". Naval News. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Deshpande, Smruti (2 December 2023). "Next-gen destroyers on drawing board, Twin Engine Deck Based Fighters expected by 2032, says Navy". ThePrint. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Menon, Adithya Krishna (29 August 2024). "India's First P17A Nilgiri-class Frigate Starts Sea Trials". Naval News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Menon, Adithya Krishna (13 August 2023). "India Proceeds with New Submarines, Surface Ships Development". Naval News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Ray, Kalyan. "India to become 175-warship Navy with bigger destroyers in the next decade, says Chief". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ "Indian Navy Expanding to Meet China Threat, Better Team With Allies". USNI News. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ @IndiannavyMedia (14 October 2022). "#PathtoPride @IndianNavy showcasing next generation Combat Management System in #DefExpo22" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Indian Navy mulls next generation corvette order at Rs 36,000 crore - OrissaPOST". OrissaPOST. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Menon, Adithya Krishna (15 January 2025). "Indian Navy Inducts New Destroyer, Frigate and Submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "India Needs a Maritime Strategy for the 21st Century". thewire.in. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Naval variant of BRAHMOS missile has successfully been integrated". Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Menon, Adithya Krishna (17 November 2024). "India Conducts Maiden Tests of Long Range Hypersonic and Subsonic Naval Missiles". Naval News. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation to Develop Nirbhay Anti-Ship Naval Variant". militaryleak.com. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
