Project 18, Next Generation Destroyer (NGD) : News and Updates

INterestingly is Project 18 Alpha, which means there was a P18 which was shelved.

10k is bare minimum nowadays for a destroyer, more like a large frigate
 
INterestingly is Project 18 Alpha, which means there was a P18 which was shelved.

10k is bare minimum nowadays for a destroyer, more like a large frigate
Until any kind of RFP details are out I will not be sure about any “details” coming in from the defence rumour mill. It’s notoriously inaccurate and as often been wrong.

There is a strong possibility a destroyer program is started but no guarantee. Even within the destroyer program we have two choices this could be project 18 or 18a or it could be Project 15C.

We have seen many specs circulate from 10k tons + 112 VLS to 14k tons and 144 VLS. It could be the case one is Project 15c other Project 18. It could be the case they are both not the design.

I won’t be sure about any details till we get concrete confirmations. Till then all this is speculative.
 
At the Navy Day PC last year, top officials said on record that a 10000t NGD hull was in the design stage which would take 5 yrs to complete.

Since AON has now been recieved, the design work is likely close to completion.

Wonder where that leaves the rumoured P-15C project though which would require a redesign of the propulsion setup at the very least.


Until any kind of RFP details are out I will not be sure about any “details” coming in from the defence rumour mill. It’s notoriously inaccurate and as often been wrong.

There is a strong possibility a destroyer program is started but no guarantee. Even within the destroyer program we have two choices this could be project 18 or 18a or it could be Project 15C.

We have seen many specs circulate from 10k tons + 112 VLS to 14k tons and 144 VLS. It could be the case one is Project 15c other Project 18. It could be the case they are both not the design.

I won’t be sure about any details till we get concrete confirmations. Till then all this is speculative.
 
At the Navy Day PC last year, top officials said on record that a 10000t NGD hull was in the design stage which would take 5 yrs to complete.

Since AON has now been recieved, the design work is likely close to completion.

Wonder where that leaves the rumoured P-15C project though which would require a redesign of the propulsion setup at the very least.
Do you have the video or transcript of the navy day PC. I tried to look it up but couldn’t find it. Would be very interested to hear exactly what they said.

Project 15C is a bit doubtful for me too simply because it can’t be a rehash of Vizag. As you said the propulsion plant needs to be changed. But that doesn’t make it impossible.

Infact bytes from MDL officials prove it did exist at one point.

The thing is Next Generation Destroyer is such a generic name, we don’t know which destroyer they mean when they talk about a 10k ton destroyer.

Is it is P-18? or this P-15C if it even exits.

My theory is if P-15C exists it is the lighter design around 10k tons.

While the 14k tons design is Project 18.

Again it is purely a speculation on my part.
 
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Do you have the video or transcript of the navy day PC. I tried to look it up but couldn’t find it. Would be very interested to hear exactly what they said.

Project 15C is a bit doubtful for me too simply because it can’t be a rehash of Vizag. As you said the propulsion plant needs to be changed. But that doesn’t make it impossible.

Infact bytes from MDL officials prove it did exist at one point.

The thing is Next Generation Destroyer is such a generic name, we don’t know which destroyer they mean when they talk about a 10k ton destroyer.

Is it is P-18? or this P-15C if it even exits.

My theory is if P-15C exists it is the lighter design around 10k tons.

While the 14k tons design is Project 18.

Again it is purely a speculation on my part.

Found it. It was infact the 2023 PC.

 
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INterestingly is Project 18 Alpha, which means there was a P18 which was shelved.

Yes, this P-18A name was heard few months ago as well. My thoughts on that were the same:


That said, I'm confused at the "P-18A" nomenclature being used. This indicates that there was a "P-18" design on the board earlier.

I'm wondering if the original P-18 was the design shown in a WESEE video years ago, which is ostensibly based on a Fincantieri DDX baseline:

View attachment 52869

Whereas the new one shown last year (with superstructure-based radar panels like on Arleigh Burke) could be the P-18A:

View attachment 52870

If I resort to a little bit of high-octane speculation, I'd say we originally did want to go with a DDX baseline. A lot of preliminary work may have already been done for it, but for whatever reason it didn't pan out (Italians quoted too high a price, or maybe that design was only made with MFSTAR in mind and couldn't support the LRMFR). This was the P-18.

So we went back to square one and decided to come up with our own design, what we now call P-18A. This would be entirely based around carrying the LRMFR arrays.

This would explain the inordinate delays and why the program is stuck in conceptual stage for nearly a decade at this point.
 
I gave a different opinion in the surface ships procurement ideology.

I believe we should have only:

1) Destroyers: 3 or 4*no of aircraft carriers

Role: a) anti BMD and anti air for CBG (primary)
b) anti surface/ship and ASW (2 helis and other standardASW equipmens) (secondary )

2) frigates: lots of them, but try to make as cheap as possible to field them in numbers

Role: a) blue water ASW (primary)
b) anti air(medium range) and AShW(secondary )


3) corvetts: 2 types, lots of them(>50), should be very cheap,

Role: EEZ ASW OR anti-Mine (only one role per boat), just have CIWS and 76mm with Dart and HE rounds for anti-air and anti-surface(kamikaze USV)

4) Aircraft carriers: 1-2(max) but only proper carriers with awacs and EMALS

5) missile vessels: preferably unmanned, but why need them ? Just build SSK instead
 
P-15C was only reported by NDTV news. They had also given weird timelines about P-17B as well. I feel that was just some bogus claim.

NGD has been in news since 2017ish.
NDTVs claims were outright wrong as they reported the P17B to be 6 units while its been clear for a lngh while even officiallyu that it was a 7 unit progam, the timelines were off for that as well.

They havent even mentioned those previous claims again. I think ignoring that article would be very appropriate
 
P-15C was only reported by NDTV news. They had also given weird timelines about P-17B as well. I feel that was just some bogus claim.

NGD has been in news since 2017ish.

P-15C was mentioned as a possibility by MDL during an investor concall last year iirc. Seems to be pure speculation on their part.

In any case, the P-15 design is redundant today. Re-engineering the propulsion system would essentially mean creating a whole new class of warship.

The proven P-17 would be a much better option for briding the numbers gap until NGD comes online.

I suspect NGD will have IEPS to power the full spec LRMFR + HPM/DEW weapons so delays are likely. P-17A has a wider hull to better accommodate new systems that could eventually go onboard the NGD.
 
People are so quick to jump to conclusions. @Kitsune even made a post but then deleted it:ROFLMAO:.


Screenshot 2026-10-31 at 14-13-37 Sandeep on X The LRAShM is fully funded by the Navy and has ...png

skip to- 9:46 [ship launched version]

While the missile nomenclature highlights the primacy of the naval role, the Indian Air Force and Indian Army are also likely to explore employing the missile. It is also expected to have a ship-launched variant in the future. The missile is alluded to be capable of carrying various types of conventional warheads within its glide vehicle, with the current focus being on the anti-ship version.



It's a 13 tonnes missile. I don't think it can even be launched from ships.

But i do hope that we are able to fit atleast AD1 missiles in NGD.
Ofcourse it will be sized down or modified in some way but it will be there.
 
People are so quick to jump to conclusions. @Kitsune even made a post but then deleted it:ROFLMAO:.


View attachment 54687

skip to- 9:46 [ship launched version]






Ofcourse it will be sized down or modified in some way but it will be there.
It's impossible to make a 12-ton missile compact enough to carry on an aircraft or ship.

If they ever make a 2-3ton missile with similar performance characteristics then it has nothing to do with LRAshm. It will be an entirely new missile, using the learning from earlier developments. Common sense should come before quoting random claims.
 
It's impossible to make a 12-ton missile compact enough to carry on an aircraft or ship.

If they ever make a 2-3ton missile with similar performance characteristics then it has nothing to do with LRAshm. It will be an entirely new missile, using the learning from earlier developments. Common sense should come before quoting random claims.
This is all semantics. You can call it whatever you want. Just like Brahmos NG is still called a brahmos. A downsized Lrashm variant with length ~8.5m would become our version of YJ series of missiles.

1793447856347.png1793447876327.png

And the person I am quoting is Sandeep Unnithan. Not random. I am inclined to takes his word over anyone on this forum.

Agree to disagree i guess.
 
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This is all semantics. You can call it whatever you want. Just like Brahmos NG is still called a brahmos. A downsized Lrashm variant with length ~8.5m would become our version of YJ series of missiles.

View attachment 54689View attachment 54690

And the person I am quoting is Sandeep Unnithan. Not random. I am inclined to takes his word over anyone on this forum.

Agree to disagree i guess.
So, you agree that Brahmos and Brahmos-NG are different missiles. Which is my whole point. It doesn't matter what they name it. Akash-1P and Akash-NG have nothing in common other than name.

You can't say "LRAShM will be there in the next destroyer" and try to defend it. Because it physically not possible. If you cut diameter, length, and weight drastically. Its not the same missile. "A missile like LRAShM" is an acceptable way to put it.

One shouldn't accept a claim as true solely because an authority figure or expert supports it, without examining independent evidence or logic.
 
People are so quick to jump to conclusions. @Kitsune even made a post but then deleted it:ROFLMAO:.


View attachment 54687

skip to- 9:46 [ship launched version]






Ofcourse it will be sized down or modified in some way but it will be there.
You see, About 5 minutes after I made that post I realised I will have to argue with you and thus reached the conclusion that for my own mental well being it would be better to delete that post.

And since @Ashwin has already explained why you are wrong I will not repeat that.

I would just like to add this regarding sandeep