India plans next-generation stealth destroyers to counter growing maritime threats

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Published - November 01, 2026 09:21 pm IST - NEW DELHI

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has recently accorded in-principle approval to the futuristic warships under Project 18A. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena

The government has given a major push to the Indian Navy’s next-generation destroyer programme amid the growing maritime security challenges posed by China and Pakistan, both of which are strengthening their own underwater warfare capabilities.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has recently accorded in-principle approval to the futuristic warships under Project 18A. The delivery of the warships is expected to begin five to 10 years after the contract is signed, given the complexity and scale of the programme.

A senior Defence Ministry official confirmed the development. The proposed programme, estimated to cost around ₹80,000 crore, aims to develop a new generation of stealth-guided missile destroyers equipped with advanced weapons, sensors, and technologies, the official said.

The warships are expected to have nearly 75% indigenous content, with both defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and private sector companies eligible to participate in the competitive bidding process, the official added.

The programme assumes significance as China continues to expand its naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region and enhance its submarine fleet, while Pakistan is also strengthening its underwater warfare capabilities with the induction of advanced submarines.

The evolving security environment has underscored the need for India to strengthen its surface combat fleet and maintain a credible maritime deterrence across the Indian Ocean region.

Several existing destroyers of the Indian Navy are due for decommissioning in coming years, making the induction of advanced frontline surface combatants essential to maintaining the fleet’s operational strength, the official added.

The futuristic destroyers, to be designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, are expected to feature significantly more advanced systems than the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers. These warships are likely to have enhanced firepower, sophisticated surveillance sensors, improved air defence systems, and advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities, providing the Navy with greater operational flexibility against emerging maritime threats.

The Indian Navy currently operates around 12 or 13 relatively new guided-missile destroyers, which form the backbone of its surface combat fleet and provide capabilities across air defence, anti-surface warfare, and anti-submarine operations.

These include the Visakhapatnam-class, Kolkata-class, and Delhi-class destroyers. The existing warships are equipped with an array of advanced weapon systems, including BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, naval guns, close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine warfare equipment.

The next-generation destroyers are expected to substantially enhance India’s firepower, surveillance, and multi-domain combat capabilities. Their advanced sensors and anti-submarine warfare systems will be particularly significant as the Navy prepares to counter increasingly sophisticated underwater threats and safeguard India’s maritime interests in the region.

Published - November 01, 2026 09:21 pm IST

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