Project 18, Next Generation Destroyer (NGD) : News and Updates
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I'm fairly disappointed at the timelines indicated in this article. I sure hope that's a mistake on the part of the writer. If the first NGD won't start construction for 3+8 years from now (2037), we can only expect to see it in service in the mid-2040s.
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:
Whereas the new one shown last year (with superstructure-based radar panels like on Arleigh Burke) could be the P-18A:
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.
It's based on the most recent render released by Navy (2nd pic above).
Note that the Navy never officially identified this design as NGD, but it couldn't really be anything else. Now, whether this design is the actual one they are pursuing or if it's just a placeholder, that we do not know.
Likely to be the case. No wonder, the IN is extending the P-15 line. Plus new gen tech (IEPS, for example) needs time for proof testing. Although RR seems to have sorted out issues with MT30/WR21 on the RNs T45 DDGs, the IN probably doesn't want to take any chances.
I sure hope P-18 builds on the flush deck design of P-17A/B though. It'd be a pity to see a raised deck/forecastle on such a massive 14000t hull.
writer might've made some errors in timelines ?
IMO AON should be this year
RFP by 2027 end
CCS between 2029-2030
Steel cutting and construction work starting before 2030 end
IMO 3+ years for Approvals + negotiations and 8 years for first ship rollout is what is likely. We should have first P18 destroyer by 2038
P18 is also really crucial for our Sea based BMD, so i don't think it will be pushed to 2040s
MDL Dock for P18 should be ready in next 2 years
Since NGD is delayed, the 4 P-15Cs are likely going to replace the Rajput class. But by the time, they arrive the oldest P-15 (INS Delhi) will also be close to retirement.
Being a legacy 80s-era design, P-15 cannot be adapted for modular construction (not by a Western co like Fincantieri atleast). This means long build times of 7-10 yrs as has been the case w/earlier batches. Why not pump out 4 more P-17B instead?
What could be the INs thinking here?
Nice, apart from stealth and saving space, does it provide any other advantage to our current capability? I kind of don't remember much of it's capabilties right now.
I still think of Project 15C as vapourware, it didn't exist until a few months ago and here the author claims the program will get RFP in a year or so.
Iirc, the design phase of P18 alone was expected to take 5 yrs with a timeline of another 5+ yrs for commissioning.
This was mentioned in a statement from the IN a couple years ago (2023?). The IN will probably build a land based test site for tech like LRMFR, integrated mast, etc before putting them on the first of class P18.
Fairly standard process used by navies around the world, including PLAN for their Type 055.
This will take time. P-15C might just be a backup option under serious consideration at NHQ.
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There's already a land-based test site for LRMFR
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2. its the same radar/very close derivative already being used on INS avnesh. It already has sea experience.
Personally i think the author from NDTV is bullshitting or the source is wrong. The P17B order was approved for 7 ships not 6. There was no p15C chatter until like a few months ago and even then it was very preliminary chatter which was more as a suggestion rather than a full blown order.
the p18 has been in design since like 2022. The navy will have had 6 years for it by 2028.
2028 is also the year the massive MDL expansion is finished which can accomodate the P18 class destroyers. They all line up well.
personally think the source is wrong.
1. there is alr a land based site for the main radar.
2. its the same radar/very close derivative already being used on INS avnesh. It already has sea experience.
Personally i think the author from NDTV is bullshitting or the source is wrong. The P17B order was approved for 7 ships not 6. There was no p15C chatter until like a few months ago and even then it was very preliminary chatter which was more as a suggestion rather than a full blown order.
the p18 has been in design since like 2022. The navy will have had 6 years for it by 2028.
2028 is also the year the massive MDL expansion is finished which can accomodate the P18 class destroyers. They all line up well.
personally think the source is wrong.
Stealth is main feature. But some others are like:
Better radar and singnal detection range of enemy ships due to the Electronic Support Measures (ESM) antenna placed at the top of the mast.
And may be less wear and tear of system and less effect of weather and saline water due to being in an enclosed Fiber Reinforced plastic.
And some also mention that it has better networking and data fusion, but don't know much about it
Imo, a dedicated test site might still be needed for emi/emc compatibility testing between LRMFR and the EW system, for example.
The Type 055 has a scaled up version of the same radar (Type 346) found on the smaller Type 052D. But the Chinese still built a dedicated mock up of it.
And it's helped them iron out issues and scale production much faster than earlier classes which followed a traditional iterative approach (Type 052B > Type 052C > Type 052D)
We'd need to cater for structural issues too since LRMFR will be our first superstructure mounted naval radar.