Project 18-class destroyer. 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 Project 17B-class frigate or Next Generation Frigates (NGF) and Next Generation Corvettes (NGC).

History

Background 
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). 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 displacement of . The leading contenders for the deal were Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). 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  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).

The Request for Proposal (RfP) for the destroyers are expected to be released in 2025-26.

As of 15 January 2025, the project is in the planning stage and implementation is expected to begin in few years.

Design

Armament 
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.

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.

See also

Other references to the Indian Navy 

 Future of the Indian Navy
 List of destroyers of India
 List of active Indian Navy ships

Other destroyers of comparable configurations and capabilities 

 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 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 

Destroyer classes
Destroyers of the Indian Navy
Ships built in India