Project 18A Next-Generation Destroyer

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Key takeaways

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved Project 18A (Next-Generation Destroyer) at an estimated cost of ₹80,000 crore.
The project builds massive 10,000-13,000-tonne destroyers featuring up to 144 Vertical Launch System cells.
The initiative targets approximately 75% indigenous content to strongly support Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave in-principle approval to the Project 18A (Next-Generation Destroyer) programme.
The Defence Minister chairs the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).
The entire Project 18A (Next-Generation Destroyer) programme carries an estimated cost of approximately ₹80,000 crore.

This capital acquisition program of the Indian Navy aims to build heavily armed and stealth guided-missile destroyers.
These new warships will succeed the Visakhapatnam-class warships as the primary surface strike platforms of the navy.
The Warship Design Bureau (WDB) under the Ministry of Defence conceptualized and designed these vessels entirely in-house.
The project aims to build multi-role warships with deep-strike land attack, integrated air defense, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
These capabilities help preserve naval dominance and fleet strength across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The design features massive 10,000-13,000-tonne destroyers with advanced stealth capabilities and integrated electric propulsion systems.
The project targets roughly 75% indigenous content to support Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The warships will house up to 144 Vertical Launch System cells for BrahMos missiles, long-range land-attack missiles, and air defence interceptors.
Advanced indigenous AESA radars and integrated combat management systems will track aerial, surface, and missile threats.
Advanced sonar systems, SMART missiles, and Varunastra torpedoes will strengthen anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The project enhances India's blue-water naval capabilities to counter expanding Chinese naval deployments and regional submarine threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
These advanced indigenous warships replace ageing destroyers to strengthen long-term fleet readiness and national maritime security.