Indian Navy Eyes Next-Gen Project 18 Destroyers with Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems and Drone Launch Capabilities

The Indian Navy is poised to take a significant step towards modernizing its fleet by seeking approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) to construct 8 to 10 advanced Project 18 class destroyers.

These cutting-edge warships are envisioned to be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including anti-ballistic missile systems and the capability to launch drones, further bolstering India's maritime defence capabilities.

Emerging concept details provide a tantalizing glimpse into the formidable capabilities of these Project 18 class warships. A promotional video released last year showcased a graphical representation of a potential design, highlighting a striking canister-based universal Vertical Launch System (VLS) configuration.

This innovative design incorporates an impressive 144 missile cells, arranged strategically in a three 6×4 VLS 2 layout, positioned both at the bow and aft of the vessel.

Beyond the VLS, these warships are also set to feature eight slant launchers situated behind the main radar, potentially earmarked for the deployment of the potent BrahMos-2 anti-ship missile.

Additionally, the integration of the PGLRSAM interceptor missile, with its impressive 250 km range, will significantly enhance the warships' defensive capabilities.

As the successors to the P-15 Bravo class, or the P-15B program, the Project 18 class destroyers are anticipated to be a game-changer for the Indian Navy. Their addition to the fleet is expected to provide a substantial boost to the country's maritime security and strategic advantage in the region.

 

[Sunny]

32 or even 64 VLS is far too little for what is supposed to be a frontline destroyer. Especially if you compare with the kind of VLS loadouts being churned out worldwide, including by our rivals.

How our rivals equip their destroyers should not dictate our requirements but our own needs should. Most of the nations who have heavily armed destroyers have the necessary funding to back them up. This is not our case where projects drag on sometimes decades because of cost.

Even in current scenario our P-15 class destroyers are more than a match for anything that China or Pakistan has due to the overwhelming superiority of Brahmos. One hit on any destroyer and it will go down, same will be the case with our destroyers when enemy will have weapons which surpass our defenses.

Here having destroyers with adequate weapons and more numbers will always be better than limited heavily armed destroyers.

 

[Sandeep]

Still cant spare 1Billion dollars for Safran 110KN engine.Worst defence minister

A deal will be done by this year. They already signed a MoU with Safran to develop a brand new engine and soon a contract will be signed by this year hopefully.

 

[neil]

How our rivals equip their destroyers should not dictate our requirements but our own needs should. Most of the nations who have heavily armed destroyers have the necessary funding to back them up. This is not our case where projects drag on sometimes decades because of cost.

Even in current scenario our P-15 class destroyers are more than a match for anything that China or Pakistan has due to the overwhelming superiority of Brahmos. One hit on any destroyer and it will go down, same will be the case with our destroyers when enemy will have weapons which surpass our defenses.

Here having destroyers with adequate weapons and more numbers will always be better than limited heavily armed destroyers.

Making lightly armed destroyers will be just like making targets for enemy to indulge in a turkey shoot. Why even bother with platforms that can't engage in a serious or intense battle. If even our destroyers can't engage in heavy crossfire engagement, then which other platform will??

 

[Sos]

The Navy plans to have the necessary fleet. The Army plans to have a powerful force, but are fairly slow. The Air Force plans to plan, unfortunately.

Navy and army have indian private company options airforce does not

 

[Anant]

Navy and army have indian private company options airforce does not

Most of what the Navy and Army get comes from DPSUs, with private companies mostly providing subsystems. The same is true for the Air Force.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to quickly finish its designs and start constructing them as quickly as possible. We need larger destroyers which can hold more missiles to attack but defend against any heavy saturated attacks as well because the threat level from China and Pakistan is going to increase. With these new destroyers we should increase the amount of indigenous technology, manufacture most of it it locally and with more indigenous content than previous ships.

Ideally we need to build at least 20 of these ships but continue to upgrade or improve any critical technology and equipment in different variants. To speed up construction time we need to use block/modular construction method to assemble large prefabricated sections of the ship at the shipyard.

 

[Anant]

Is there any possibility that some of these ships will be nuclear powered...

Absolutely not! Nuclear-powered ships are ridiculously expensive to operate. We do not have the kind of money needed for that, especially not for surface combatants.

 

[Satyabrata Sahoo]

It means two days agos 1.45 lakhs crs does not include navy ships. That means another 1 lakhs crs Naval approval by DAC is yet to come.

Those were for P17B Frigates.

 

[Satyabrata Sahoo]

Is there any possibility that some of these ships will be nuclear powered...

Next generation Destroyers after P18 class may go nuclear way. Those would be anywhere near 17k-18k ton cruiser class.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Bro the issue is that IAF’s deals are all fairly big in size, and HAL keeps lying and misleading everyone. If you remember, IAF had asked for Mirages in the 90s. MoD refused. They were forced to issue RFP for MMRCA. After multiple RFPs due to revised DPP by MoD, they finally did choose Rafale. But again HAL failed them. Then MRFA, where they didn’t get the permission to go ahead at least till 2022.

Coming to desi products, they were told Tejas will come in mid 90s. We all know that story. Then they were told mk2 will start production in 2016, but so far HAL refuses to even do muh dikhai. I am personally convinced, without any official backing though, that MoD delayed MRFA because HAL was fooling them, and still is, with fake deadlines.

That's exactly what's happening. But fault lies on MoD and PM for becoming fools despite all the history of HAL and DPSUs.

 

[Anurag]

But who will teach HAL?

Just like navy teach state run and private companies for their own work!!

 

[Sunny]

Making lightly armed destroyers will be just like making targets for enemy to indulge in a turkey shoot. Why even bother with platforms that can't engage in a serious or intense battle. If even our destroyers can't engage in heavy crossfire engagement, then which other platform will??

The superiority of a warship does not only depend on the number of VLS and 32 UVLS is by no means a small number. Also the days of turkey shoot are long over with the end of battleships armed with big guns.

Let's say if we design 2 destroyers one with 144 and other with 32 VLS each armed with Brahmos or similar missiles and have them engage each other, one Brahmos hit would cripple either of the ships.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

The project 18 must be built in blocks of 8 and atleast 36 -40 destroyers built by 2060.

 

[Pramkumar]

Navy should concentrate on the indigenous power plants and propulsion system also.

 

[Frank]

Latest threat is drone attack like shaheed and boat drone attack like Magura.. Project 18 has no counter measures.. We are building sitting ducks...

We need anti drone system, EW, or laser system...

 

[Akshat]

Just like navy teach state run and private companies for their own work!!

Even Navy gave up in front of HAL. They also ditched N LCA. And remember, even Navy tried to get rid of HAL in the NUH tender and wanted only private players. HAL elbowed its way in and Navy is still waiting for this choppers. So when it comes to HAL, even Navy has thrown its hands in the air.

 

[Anurag]

Even Navy gave up in front of HAL. They also ditched N LCA. And remember, even Navy tried to get rid of HAL in the NUH tender and wanted only private players. HAL elbowed its way in and Navy is still waiting for this choppers. So when it comes to HAL, even Navy has thrown its hands in the air.

We talk about a lot of things few years back or a decade back Indian shipbuilding capacity was so poor but in our country our main force is always on focus army and airforce (it's ok because army and airforce have war like scenario with pak) so no one noticed navy while they worked in managing these systems very well!!
while about NLCA yeah navy ditched it because of security reasons and range but yeah they just sliced their order of new fighter aircraft to only 26 while their need was for 56 this tell another story!!

 

[Dredd]

HAL showed mk1a in 2024. And delivery of mk1 trainers, for which orders came in 2018, is still not complete.

Mk1 trainer order was in 2009 and 2011 with fighter variant (IOC and FOC)...

 

[Dredd]

IAF should learn from navy

there are around 5 DPSU shipyard and 2-3 private shipyard which invokes competition in quality and pricing, while IAF is stuck with HAL who is using its monopoly to charge exorbitant amount for shabby work, Look at the AL31 engine contract (26000 crore)and Su 30 upgrade program(62000 crore for 80 jets), Dhruv even after 30 years of development are still crashing due to quality issues, Tejas order from 2009 is still not complete.

 

[Dredd]

But who will teach HAL?

HAL need to breakup in atleast 2 company ( fixed and rotary wing).