Indian Navy’s Biggest Destroyer In The Making? Project 18 Vessel Can Carry 144 Missiles, Including BrahMos

Modernisation is the need of the hour and there’s no denying that. Indian armed forces have been constantly been working to upgrade their technology, weapons and tactics, and in view of the same, the Indian Navy recently received its 801st vessel – Himgiri – one of the largest and most technologically advanced warships constructed by GRSE.

This is just one example of how our armed forces are regularly upgrading their equipment and systems. While the Indian Navy is already an indomitable force, ranking among the world’s top 10 navies, what if it could deploy a destroyer that is not only huge but can also carry a colossal 144 missiles!

Well, the Indian Navy seems to working on such a project, which has been codenamed Project 18 (P-18) next-generation destroyer. This warship will reportedly be the biggest in the fleet.

What is Indian Navy’s Project 18?

In December 2023, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh had stated that the Indian Navy has started work on building the next generation of more advanced and capable destroyers, and plans for these vessels are already on the drawing board. He, however, didn’t reveal any more details on this.

What Vice Admiral Singh did share was that the broad timeframe is about five years from now. “By then, we should be in a position to target the contract, and within five to 10 years, entire delivery,” he spoke at a press conference held ahead of Navy Day on December 4, 2023.

Its biggest warship to join Navy soon?

Media reports suggested that this Project 18 next-gen destroyer is expected to significantly surpass the size and capabilities of the existing Visakhapatnam-class destroyers. To give an idea, the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers is currently the Navy’s largest and displace around 7,450 tonnes.

These are largest front line warships built for Indian Navy and are fitted with 48 vertical launch systems (VLS). The vessel is capable of operating in all domains of warfare (Surface, Anti-Submarine and Anti-Air).

P-18 destroyer, on the other hand, would include around 3 times more VLS cells at 144 that will support a range of missiles for various mission roles.

How would P-18 destroyer set itself apart from its predecessors?

This class is likely to have an estimated displacement of approximately 13,000 tonnes, making it the largest in the Indian fleet. P-18 destroyer may be classified as a cruiser under international conventions, which apply to warships exceeding 10,000 tonnes. It would be equipped with advanced radar and sensor suite for multi-role capability.

Yet to be announced officially, this huge destroyer would have 4 large active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars integrated into the superstructure. The radar suite will have an S-band active array as the primary radar, a volume search radar, and a multi-sensor mast, providing 360-degree surveillance.

Missile configuration: How this will boost P-18’s layered defense?

Indian Navy’s largest destroyer, once developed, will combine missile systems across its 144 VLS cells, 32 of which are dedicated to the under-development PGLRSAM, a long-range surface-to-air missile with a range of 250 km. Another 48 cells will house the BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missile and the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile.

64 cells are allocated for very short-range surface-to-air missiles, acting as the final defensive layer against aerial and anti-ship missile threats.

P-18 destroyer: A Made in India marvel in the making?

In line with the armed forces increased push towards producing locally, the warship is expected to have 75% indigenous content under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. P-18 destroyer will be a gamechanger as it would have the ability to run 2 multi-role helicopters, launching autonomous underwater drones, and carrying out anti-submarine operations.