India is building a formidable maritime weapon under Project 18, a next-generation stealth destroyer that will be the largest and most advanced warship ever constructed by the Indian Navy. Slated to become a key asset in India’s strategic sea power, Project 18 aims to outmatch regional rivals and assert India’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific.
Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, Project 18 destroyers are expected to displace over 13,000 tonnes, making them significantly larger than the existing Visakhapatnam-class destroyers (Project 15B). The ship will reportedly carry an astounding 144 missile cells, capable of launching a mix of BrahMos cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and anti-submarine rockets.
What sets Project 18 apart is not just its sheer firepower. The destroyer will be outfitted with cutting-edge AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar systems, capable of tracking aerial and maritime threats at distances of up to 500 kilometers. It will also feature state-of-the-art stealth shaping, reduced radar cross-section, and electronic warfare systems, enabling it to detect enemies while remaining nearly invisible on hostile radars.
Additionally, the destroyer will be equipped with directed energy weapons (DEWs) in the form of laser-based close-in weapon systems (CIWS) to intercept incoming threats such as drones, missiles, and aircraft.
The ship will be powered by integrated full electric propulsion (IFEP), a revolutionary technology in naval design that reduces acoustic signatures and enables more efficient energy distribution to both propulsion and weapons systems. It will also house helicopter hangars to operate anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, further enhancing its multi-role capabilities.
India’s defense manufacturing sector is playing a major role in the realization of this high-tech vessel. Public-sector shipyards such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) are being considered for construction, ensuring a strong Make in India component.
The projected timeline for the keel-laying of the first Project 18 ship is 2026, with commissioning expected in the early 2030s. Once inducted, it will complement India’s upcoming Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-II (IAC-2) and form the backbone of future Carrier Battle Groups (CBGs).
Defence analysts have compared Project 18 to the US Navy’s Zumwalt-class and China’s Type 055 destroyers, both considered world leaders in naval engineering. However, India’s warship will boast a unique blend of versatility, firepower, and indigenous technology, potentially positioning it as the most potent surface combatant in Asia.
As maritime tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, Project 18 marks a significant leap in India’s strategic deterrence and blue water capabilities.
Source:
- ThePrint.in – “India’s Project 18 destroyer: What we know so far”
- Hindustan Times – Defence Updates
- [Indian Navy Public Statements and Defence Expo Reports]
