India's defence council greenlights massive stealth destroyer program under Project 18A

India’s Defence Acquisition Council, led by Rajnath Singh, has formally approved the futuristic destroyer effort known as Project 18A. The warships, to be designed by the Warship Design Bureau, will be stealthy guided-missile destroyers with a displacement exceeding 10,000 tonnes, markedly larger than the 7,400-tonne Visakhapatnam-class ships currently in service. Equipped with cutting-edge weapons, sensors and other systems, the vessels aim to become the backbone of the Indian Navy’s surface combat fleet.

The programme is projected to cost upwards of Rs 75,000 crore, with a competitive bidding process to follow and delivery expected 5-10 years after contracts are signed. According to the defence ministry, 82 % of DAC-approved projects are earmarked for the domestic defence industry, suggesting a high level of indigenous content. The move reflects India’s push for self-reliance in defence under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework.