With 144 Missile Cells, India's Upcoming P-18 Stealth Destroyer Emerges as a Powerful Counter to Growing Indo-Pacific Naval Threats

The Indian Navy has unveiled the design for a formidable new warship, the Project-18 Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD), a stealth vessel poised to become one of the most heavily armed ships in the world.

The revelation was made as the Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) celebrated the delivery of its 100th indigenously designed ship, marking a significant milestone in India's journey toward self-reliance in naval manufacturing.

Revealed during a seminar in New Delhi titled “Nation Building Through Shipbuilding,” the Project-18 destroyer represents a major leap in India's maritime capabilities. This new class of warship is designed to succeed the current Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.

With a planned displacement of 13,000 tons, the P-18 will be substantially larger and more powerful than its predecessors, placing it in the category of a cruiser by international standards.

The warship's design incorporates a sophisticated suite of sensors and radar systems. It features four large Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) panels integrated into its superstructure, believed to be the indigenous Long-Range Multi-Function Radar (LRMFR).

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this system provides 360-degree surveillance and can track a vast number of aerial and surface targets at distances exceeding 500 kilometres. This advanced electronic architecture ensures the destroyer can effectively operate and defend itself against modern threats in a complex combat environment.

The most striking feature of the Project-18 is its unprecedented firepower. The vessel is designed to carry a total of 144 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, which house a variety of missiles for different missions. This arsenal is planned to include:

• Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LRSAM): 32 VLS cells will be dedicated to long-range air defence missiles, likely the developmental PGLRSAM with a range of 250 km, providing a protective shield against enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles.
• Cruise Missiles: 48 universal VLS cells are intended for a mix of BrahMos Extended-Range supersonic cruise missiles and the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), enabling powerful strikes against ships and land targets.
• Short-Range Air Defence: 64 smaller VLS cells will be equipped with the Very Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) system for last-ditch defence against sea-skimming missiles and other aerial threats.

This missile capacity significantly surpasses that of many contemporary warships, including China's advanced Type 055 Renhai-class cruiser (112 VLS cells) and the United States Navy's workhorse Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (96 VLS cells).

Additionally, the design includes eight slant launchers, which could potentially carry future hypersonic weapons like the BrahMos-2, further enhancing its offensive power.

Reflecting the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, the Project-18 destroyer aims for an indigenous content of approximately 75%.

It will incorporate advanced stealth features to minimise its radar signature and an efficient Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system.

The ship will also be equipped to handle two multi-role helicopters and features systems for launching autonomous underwater vehicles and drones, making it a versatile platform for anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, and surveillance.

The development of the Project-18 destroyer signals India's firm intent to safeguard its interests in the Indo-Pacific and maintain a robust defence posture.

As stated in the ancient Indian naval ethos, "Jalmev Yasya, Balmev Tasya" (He who controls the seas, holds the power), this next-generation warship is a testament to India's growing industrial capability and its ambition to be a dominant maritime force in the region.

 

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[Anonymus]

Okay, two points:

1. I never raised any doubts on the capabilities of the P-18s. Any ship that is essentially a cruiser and has over 100 VLS cells is exceptionally capable, and only a fool would say otherwise. What I did say, however, is that ab angled superstructure does lend itself well to reducing the radar cross-section of the ship. In any case, I am fairly confident that these renders are a preliminary design, and are almost certainly not the finalised design, which will only happen after the design parameters are finalised and the appropriate RfPs are issued.

2. As for the Arleigh Burke-class continuing production, the USN needed more ships to keep fleet strength up, the Zumwalts were too expensive, and the DDG(X) design was still too far into the future. Thus, a modernised Arleigh Burke design was how it went. Now, in theory, the Americans could have modified the design to incorporate an angled superstructure, but it would have necessitated major redesign work.

Bro, other than the Zumwalt class, no navy on this planet is either operating or making such ships.

By 2027, the Navy is estimating CCS approval for P18, and almost every render in the public domain ever appeared comes with this design only. Yes, there can be some minute changes, but the entire design will not be changed.

Zumwalts were too expensive; the Americans could have modified the design to incorporate an angled superstructure, but it would have necessitated major redesign work.

That's the same thing I am trying to tell: angled superstructure design ships are too costly to build. That's why no navy is even working on such a design or operating such ships. The Indian Navy, which has the lowest budget among the three branches of the Indian defence forces, can't go with such a fancy design. The Indian Navy's prime objective is to become a blue-water navy. It's better to induct such ships in large numbers compared to just going for two to three ships of Zumwalt-like design.

 

[Anonymus]

The Nilgiri-class were a major redesign from the Shivalik-class. As such, had the decision been made to incorporate an angled superstructure, it could have been done at little additional cost.

Now, the fact that the Batch 3 Talwars don't have such a feature is a Russian failing.

Those are not angled superstructures. That basic design change only incorporates a significant degree of stealth and low radar-observability through the utility of composite materials, radar-absorbent coatings, and low-observable/radar-transparent technologies. The usage of the aforementioned materials assists the vessel in maintaining a low radar cross-section (RCS) over Shivalik. That design is chosen to reduce the cost of construction as Kolkata and Visakhapatnam incorporate the same design philosophy, thus reducing designing cost. Commonality with new destroyers also reduces manufacturing cost as well as the training cost of the personnel; that's all.

 

[MSN]

Hopefully, the Project Type 18 ship will be 100% indigenous and should not remain 'नाम के वास्ते भारतीय बनावट'.
Otherwise, as usual, the ship's powerplant will be Ukrainian, with European guns and missiles of Russian origin. Radar and electronics will be Israeli-supplied, with US-made hail.
Only Indian made will probably be Ship hull and of course sailors and officers.

 

[Abhijit Roy]

Before the construction starts for this ship type, which will be almost a decade away due to the long process of tenders, awarding, and much more, we should be building an additional six advanced Visakhapatnam-class ships with modifications, which include:

• 127mm Naval Gun
• 48-cell VLS for SAM instead of 32, combining 32 cells Barak 8ER with 150km range, 16 cells VLS for 64 VL-SR SAM in quad-packed configuration.
• 16-cell VLS for BrahMos ER
• 8-cell VLS for SMART Missiles
• 8-cell VLS for LR LACM Missiles
• 2 retractable units firing 50+km ASW rockets, each pod having 12/16 missiles
• 2 Pantsir-M CIWS
• 2 PDMS CIWS similar to Goksur/RIM 116/Sea Oryx with 18-20km range
• 2 triple torpedo tubes.
• 1 launcher with a box containing micro munitions/missiles for UAV, 48 units

 

[Sacrafago90]

With 144 cells, it should be equipped with:

• 32 cells VLS for LR SAM with 250km range
• 32 cells VLS for Barak 8 ER
• 16 cells VLS for Bramhos 2
• 16 cells VLS for LR LACM/Hypersonic Missiles
• 16 cells VLS for ASW Missiles/SMART Missiles
• 16 cells VLS for 64 VL SRSAM in Quadpacked configuration
• 16 cells VLS for NASM MR/Bramhos NG

 

[Dranzer Knight]

It might be the unicorn mast

May be and may be not because from what the resources have said and then new design which came out yesterday it clearly shows that the P18 destroyer will have 2 radars as you said Unicorn mast but it won’t be primary one because recently DRDO has started work on larger ship based radar to replace MF Star and if I have to guess the design of that radar would be similar to that of DDG(X) of US

 

[Dranzer Knight]

It might be the unicorn mast

And I am wasn’t talking about the hull design just the radar structure and from what I have searched and what many reports says the hull design would also be different from traditional Indian navy destroyers till now

 

[beencensured]

At least the Indian Naval Design Bureau is much better than ADA. Happy for the Navy; with the lowest budget among the three branches of Indian defence forces, the Navy's modernisation plan is at a much better pace than the Army's and especially the Air Force's.

These ships are not cheap. Though I agree the navy has been neglected before, with the 7 billion dollar Rafale Navy deal, I cannot say scandals do not exist there. Further, there's the MQ9 deal, a deal for three more Scorpene submarines, the Project 75I deal with Germany, and competition for Project 76, with nuclear attack submarines and so on.

 

[beencensured]

48 Brahmos missiles. This is huge firepower that can destroy cities.

See the timeline, as by the time they build the ship the world would probably have a counter to Brahmos, and hypersonic would be next. Further, if India starts selling such missiles to countries of questionable loyalties like Malaysia, the technology edge would quickly erode. So, giving the world five years to find a counter, which they are desperately working on, does not mean they would be successful. But the scramjet engine has greater range and payload, and weight is reasonable too, so it might replace Brahmos in the future and may reduce cost because of greater indigenous content.

 

[Dranzer Knight]

These ships are not cheap. Though I agree the navy has been neglected before, with the 7 billion dollar Rafale Navy deal, I cannot say scandals do not exist there. Further, there's the MQ9 deal, a deal for three more Scorpene submarines, the Project 75I deal with Germany, and competition for Project 76, with nuclear attack submarines and so on.

I agree with you brother for the most part and for Rafale also I would agree with you but in a broader sense if you look then the Indian navy didn’t have any other choice other than to choose Rafale as our Indigenous TEDBF is not available and won’t be so till 2035 from recent reports what we know.In other options if had the American FA18 and you know well what it means if we go with that and other than these two there were no good options as from Russia we already have the MIG 29 but Indian navy wanted a different alternative.And as for scandal there might some be also but we don’t know

 

[Indian1ST.]

Too big. Too expensive. Putting too many eggs in one basket? Consider smaller, more numerous vessels with advanced tech and weapon systems.

 

[Indian1ST.]

This ship is going to be a beast in the IOR. With so many defensive and offensive missiles (still a speculation at best) this ship can pin the enemy's naval assets to their coast and win wars for India. Jai Hind

A big target for enemy attention. Better: more units of smaller vessels with high-tech weapons and systems, say 8,000 tonnes max displacement.

 

[Alok Gupta]

A big target for enemy attention. Better: more units of smaller vessels with high-tech weapons and systems, say 8,000 tonnes max displacement.

I don't think you know the difference between a corvette, missile boat, and a destroyer. One must have a few destroyers to dominate the enemy. Per your observation, the Indian Navy should abandon its aircraft carriers because they are an even bigger target.