How Project 17B to Transform Indian Navy Frigates into Lethal Long-Range "Snipers" with 48-Cell VLS and Project Kusha Air Defence

The Indian Navy is preparing for a significant technological leap with the development of Project 17B, the successor to the current Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigates.

This new initiative represents more than a simple upgrade; it marks a strategic shift in naval doctrine.

While previous designs focused on the survival of individual ships, Project 17B is designed to dominate the maritime battlespace.

These vessels will act as advanced "lethality nodes," capable of protecting large fleets and striking high-priority targets at distances usually handled by much larger destroyers.

Expanded Firepower and Magazine Depth​

The most visible change in the Project 17B design is the increase in the Vertical Launch System (VLS) capacity, moving from 32 to 48 cells.

In modern naval combat, adversaries often use "saturation attacks"—launching dozens of supersonic or hypersonic missiles simultaneously to overwhelm a ship’s defences.

By carrying 50% more missiles, Project 17B ensures it has the "magazine depth" required to survive multiple waves of attacks without running out of ammunition, providing a level of resilience that smaller configurations cannot match.

Layered Defence through "Quad-Packing"​

Beyond the number of cells, the efficiency of the weaponry is being overhauled.

By utilizing systems like the VL-SRSAM (Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile), the Navy can "quad-pack" missiles—fitting four smaller interceptors into a single VLS cell.

This allows the ship to create a multi-layered shield:

• Long-range: Engaging threats far from the fleet.
• Intermediate: Picking off remaining targets.
• Terminal: Utilizing quad-packed missiles for close-in protection.This tiered approach ensures the ship can defeat complex, multi-directional attacks while preserving its heavier long-range missiles for the most dangerous threats.

The Shift to a Universal Missile Architecture​

Project 17B is expected to feature a universal VLS architecture, a modular system that allows the ship to carry different types of weapons in the same silos.

Depending on the mission, a frigate could be loaded with:

• Air defence interceptors for escorting aircraft carriers.
• Anti-ship missiles for sea battles.
• Land-attack cruise missiles for precision strikes.

The integration of the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), a lighter and more compact version of the famous supersonic missile, will further allow these frigates to carry a heavy offensive punch without needing to increase the physical size of the ship.

Project Kusha: The Long-Range "Sniper" Capability​

The defining feature of Project 17B’s reach is the integration of Project Kusha, India’s indigenous long-range air defence system.

Specifically, the naval version (XRSAM) is expected to provide an engagement range exceeding 350 km.

This transforms the frigate into a long-range "sniper" capable of shooting down critical enemy assets such as:

1. AWACS: Airborne early warning and control aircraft.
2. Tankers: Aerial refuelling planes that keep enemy fighters in the air.
3. Maritime Patrol Aircraft: Long-range sensors used to track Indian ships.

By neutralizing these "enablers" at extreme ranges, the Indian Navy can effectively create an "air denial" zone, forcing hostile forces to stay so far away that their sensors and weapons become ineffective.

Advanced Sensors and Stealth Technology​

To utilize 350 km missiles effectively, the ship requires world-class "eyes."

Project 17B will likely feature an upgraded AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, potentially an advanced version of the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR or a completely indigenous solution.

These sensors are vital for tracking low-flying or stealthy targets at long distances.

Furthermore, the ship's survivability is enhanced by an integrated stealth mast, similar to Japan’s UNICORN concept.

This design houses all sensors and antennas inside a single, smooth structure, drastically reducing the ship’s radar signature.

This creates a powerful tactical advantage: a vessel that is extremely hard for the enemy to see, yet can see and strike the enemy from hundreds of kilometres away.

Strategic Importance in the Indo-Pacific​

In the broader context of Indo-Pacific security, Project 17B is a direct response to the rapid expansion of regional navies, particularly the deployment of large vessels like China’s Type 055 destroyers.

While Project 17B is technically a "frigate," its combination of 48 VLS cells, Project Kusha missiles, and advanced stealth makes it functionally equivalent to many of the world's most powerful destroyers.

 

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[Peterasp]

The increase in VLS from 32 to 48 is expected and reasonable and can be accommodated in a hull a bit bigger than that of the P-17A. The universal VLS is also expected and if confirmed it is good too.Carrying 16 Brahmos instead of 8 is even better. But trying to fit the XRSAM, the MRSAM and the SRSAM in the balance 32 tubes is in my view too ambitious. The ship will end up carrying token amounts of air defence/drone defence missiles when modern experience is of mass attacks designed to overwhelm defences. If 32 missiles are divided evenly across all 3 categories then it would be 10 10 & 12. Now while 10 XRSAM may be considered ok, 12 SRSAM for terminal defence most definitely is not. If one doubles the SRSAM outfit then the other 2 will have to be reduced substantially or one will be just a token presence. Neither of the options is desirable to the navy. On a displacement of 7000-7500 tons so much armament cannot be carried out unless compromises are made elsewhere like endurance or habitability or even in structural strength. To the navy the P-17B is a frigate to be used to bulk out our carrier groups, supplement our DDGs or act as escorts to high value merchant traffic. They are meant to support our larger ships and not meant to act like larger ships. The navy has always been very consistent in its concepts and so far there is no evidence that it is diluting them. And this article sounds as if it is which is not good. This air defence armament suite is actually what may be fitted fully on the P-18 NGD whose 14000 ton hull has the volume to carry it and the radar systems to use it to 100% capacity and to a large extent of the proposed P-15C DDG whose 9000 tons could accommodate it. But to expect a 7000-7500 ton hull to carry all this would be unprofessional.