India’s ambitious Project 18 Next-Generation Destroyer programme is expected to redefine the country’s surface warfare capabilities with plans to construct up to twelve heavily armed stealth destroyers. Featuring Integrated Electric Propulsion, advanced stealth design, and an estimated 144 vertical launch cells for long-range missiles, the ships will represent the largest and most capable surface combatants ever built in India. Designed to support aircraft carrier groups, expeditionary forces, and long-duration deployments across the Indo-Pacific, Project 18 also represents a major boost for India’s domestic naval industry. Long-term production will strengthen indigenous shipbuilding expertise while enabling the gradual integration of future technologies including hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, and advanced electronic warfare systems.
