The Indian Navy has accelerated plans for Project-18, its next-generation destroyer program, with the Defence Acquisition Council expected to grant approval for at least five advanced destroyers in the current fiscal year. These vessels, designed to displace around 13,000 tonnes, will be the largest and most heavily armed surface combatants ever built in India, featuring over 100 vertical launch system cells for a wide array of missiles including BrahMos, BrahMos-NG, and future hypersonic variants. The destroyers will incorporate advanced indigenous technologies such as AESA radars, integrated electric propulsion, and stealth enhancements, supporting India’s strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific region. The project is set to boost India’s area air defense, long-range strike, and multi-domain warfare capabilities, with the first unit anticipated to enter trials by 2030.