NEWS: Indian Navy’s Project 18 aims to develop advanced, stealth-guided missile destroyers to strengthen naval power.

KEY FACTS

• Aim: Build next-generation multi-role destroyers.
• Design: Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
• Shipyards: MDL + GRSE.
• Successor to: Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) destroyers.

MAJOR FEATURES

• Large Size: Expected displacement of 13,000+ tonnes.
• Propulsion: Advanced electric propulsion powered by gas turbines + diesel generators.
• Automation: Expected to reduce crew requirements by 25–30%.
• Missile Systems: 114 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) to launch different missiles.
• Weapons: BrahMos, LR-LACM, PGLRSAM, SRSAM + SMART.
• Unmanned Systems: UUVs + kamikaze drones for surveillance, mine detection and anti-submarine warfare.
• Radar: 360° surveillance, with reported detection range of up to 500 km.

SIGNIFICANCE

• → Strengthens naval firepower + maritime security.
• → Improves air, surface and underwater warfare capabilities.
• → Promotes indigenous defence manufacturing + Aatmanirbhar Bharat.