Project 18 Programme

Project 18 Programme Latest News

India’s ambitious Project 18 programme is steadily taking shape as what is expected to be one of the most powerful surface combatant projects ever undertaken by the Indian Navy, according to a recent report.

About Project 18 Programme

• Project 18 (P-18) Indian Navy’s Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) programme. 
• It is overseen by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). 
• Conceived as a successor to the Visakhapatnam-class (P-15B) destroyers, the P-18 class will be a fleet of advanced, multi-role stealth destroyers.
• Features:
  • With an estimated displacement exceeding 13,000 tonnes, the P-18 will rank among the largest destroyers ever operated by the Indian Navy.
  • Under international classification, warships above 10,000 tonnes fall into the cruiser category — a segment that India currently does not possess. Project 18 will mark India’s entry into this class of warships.
  • They will use an advanced electric propulsion system powered by gas turbines and diesel generators.
  • It is also expected to incorporate extensive automation throughout the ship, reducing crew requirements by an estimated 25 to 30 percent compared to existing platforms.  
  • Each ship will feature 114 vertical launch systems capable of firing a range of India’s homegrown missiles, such as:
    • BrahMos and BrahMos Next Generation
    • Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missiles (LR-LACM)
    • Precision-Guided Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (PGLRSAM)
    • Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SRSAM)
    • Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART)
  • The ships will be able to carry unmanned underwater vehicles and kamikaze drones, used for surveillance, detecting mines, and attacking submarines. 
  • Advanced radar systems will give the ships 360-degree awareness and the ability to detect threats up to 500 kilometres away.

News: TEN

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