The Indian Navy has confirmed its ambitious Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) project, a mammoth 10,000-ton destroyer that will be the successor to the Project-15B program, which is currently under development.
The NGD program, led by Vice Adm Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, is still in its conceptual phases, but interesting information is beginning to surface that points to a revolutionary future for Indian naval warfare.
A promotional video that had been released the previous year gave an idea of the possibilities of the NGD. In this video, an innovative canister-based universal Vertical Launch System (VLS) design was demonstrated. The unique design features an astounding 144 missile cells, which are carefully positioned at the bow and aft sections of the ship in a three 6x4 VLS 2 arrangement. The NGD proposal also has eight slant launchers beneath the primary radar, which might be used for the powerful BrahMos-2 anti-ship missile.
The NGD program marks a significant advancement for the Indian Navy. This next-generation battleship, with its unparalleled firepower and state-of-the-art technology, is expected to be a powerful weapon. With the program moving on with its conceptual stage and eventually going into production, the NGD will definitely change the naval warfare environment in the area and strengthen India's standing as a significant maritime force.
