What is Project 18A, and why is the Navy embarking on building futuristic warships? | Explained

The Indian Navy’s next-generation destroyer programme envisages larger, stealthier and more heavily armed warships, designed to meet emerging maritime threats and strengthen India’s ability to project power across the Indo-Pacific. The Indian Navy is preparing for a major transformation of its surface combat fleet with Project 18A, an ambitious programme to develop next-generation stealth guided-missile destroyers. Estimated to cost around ₹80,000 crore, the programme envisages warships significantly larger and more technologically advanced than the Navy’s existing frontline destroyers.