India’s Project 18, a significant initiative by the Indian Navy, is shaping up to be a powerful surface combatant project. The next-generation destroyer under this program is transforming into a larger cruiser-class warship tailored for future maritime warfare. Compared to existing Indian destroyers, the proposed platform is set to be much larger in size and capability.
The warship’s expected displacement at full load is now between 11,000 and 13,000 tonnes, with an estimated overall length of around 180 meters. It will be equipped with an Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system, crucial for generating substantial electrical power while reducing acoustic signatures, essential for future warships. This system will support advanced combat technologies like radar systems and directed-energy weapons.
Project 18 aims to incorporate extensive automation, reducing crew needs by 25 to 30 percent compared to current platforms. This reduction is intended to enhance operational efficiency and decrease long-term maintenance and personnel requirements. The vessel is envisioned not just as a destroyer but as a multi-domain command hub capable of coordinating various assets within carrier battle groups.
The warship is expected to manage operations involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles (XLUUVs), positioning it as a central node in future network-centric warfare environments. Project 18 is projected to carry up to 144 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, potentially making it one of the most heavily armed warships in Asia.
