Project 18-class destroyer
{{Short description|Indian stealth guided missile destroyers}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
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{{Infobox ship image | image = File:Next Generation Destroyer.png | caption = A concept representation of Project-18 class destroyer }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Project-18 class | Builders = | Operators = {{navy|India}} | Class before = {{sclass|Visakhapatnam|destroyer|4}} | Class after = | Subclasses = | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = 8 | Total ships completed = | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship type = Stealth guided-missile destroyer | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = {{convert|13500|t|lk=on}} | Ship length = | Ship beam = | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = IEP (expected) | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = *Total 120-144 VLS cells and 8 slant launchers{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Indian Navy to get 8 Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) |url=https://ssbcrackexams.com/indian-navy-to-get-8-next-generation-destroyer/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |language=en-US}}
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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 the Project 17B-class frigate or Next Generation Frigates (NGF) and the Next Generation Corvettes (NGC).{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2024-08-29 |title=India's First P17A Nilgiri-class Frigate Starts Sea Trials |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/08/indias-first-p17a-nilgiri-class-frigate-starts-sea-trials/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2023-08-13 |title=India Proceeds with New Submarines, Surface Ships Development |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/india-proceeds-with-new-submarines-surface-ships-development/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}
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 {{convert|10000|t|lk=on}}. The leading contenders for the deal were Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).{{Cite web |last=Deshpande |first=Smruti |date=2023-12-02 |title=Next-gen destroyers on drawing board, Twin Engine Deck Based Fighters expected by 2032, says Navy |url=https://theprint.in/defence/next-gen-destroyers-on-drawing-board-twin-engine-deck-based-fighters-expected-by-2032-says-navy/1868213/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Kalyan |title=India to become 175-warship Navy with bigger destroyers in the next decade, says Chief |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-to-become-175-warship-navy-with-bigger-destroyers-in-the-next-decade-says-chief-2793206 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-20 |title=Indian Navy Expanding to Meet China Threat, Better Team With Allies |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/07/20/indian-navy-expanding-to-meet-china-threat-better-team-with-allies |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=USNI News}} 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 {{INRConvert|3000|c|lk=on|year=2022}} 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).{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2023-08-13 |title=India Proceeds with New Submarines, Surface Ships Development |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/india-proceeds-with-new-submarines-surface-ships-development/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}{{Cite tweet |number=1580814200347426817 |user=IndiannavyMedia |title=#PathtoPride @IndianNavy showcasing next generation Combat Management System in #DefExpo22. |date=2022-10-14 |access-date=2024-09-21}}
The Request for Proposal (RfP) for the destroyers are expected to be released in 2025-26.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-09-08 |title=Indian Navy mulls next generation corvette order at Rs 36,000 crore - OrissaPOST |url=https://www.orissapost.com/indian-navy-mulls-next-generation-corvette-order-at-rs-36000-crore/amp/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=OrissaPOST |language=en-US}}
As of 15 January 2025, the project is in the planning stage and implementation is expected to begin in few years.{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2025-01-15 |title=Indian Navy Inducts New Destroyer, Frigate and Submarine |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/01/indian-navy-inducts-new-destroyer-frigate-and-submarine/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Indian Navy to get 8 Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) |url=https://ssbcrackexams.com/indian-navy-to-get-8-next-generation-destroyer/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=India Needs a Maritime Strategy for the 21st Century |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/security/india-needs-a-maritime-strategy-for-the-21st-century |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=thewire.in |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Naval variant of BRAHMOS missile has successfully been integrated |url=https://forceindia.net/feature-report/more-firepower/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2024-11-17 |title=India Conducts Maiden Tests of Long Range Hypersonic and Subsonic Naval Missiles |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/11/india-conducts-maiden-tests-of-long-range-hypersonic-and-subsonic-naval-missiles/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-03 |title=Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation to Develop Nirbhay Anti-Ship Naval Variant |url=https://militaryleak.com/2024/09/03/indian-defence-research-and-development-organisation-to-develop-nirbhay-anti-ship-naval-variant/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=militaryleak.com}}
See also
= Other references to the Indian Navy =
= 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
{{navboxes|list={{Destroyers of the Indian Navy}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}}}