In what could be one of the largest investments in India's indigenous naval shipbuilding, the Indian Navy is expected to launch three major warship projects—Project 15C destroyers, Project 17B frigates and Project 18A next-generation Large Surface Combatants—worth around ₹1 lakh crore in the near future.
According to an NDTV report, these projects are currently undergoing various internal consultations and planning.
Under the largest of the three, Project 15C, the Navy is looking to build four next-generation guided-missile destroyers at an estimated cost of around ₹50,000 crore.
Sources quoted in the report said the defence ministry is expected to issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project within the next year, with construction expected to begin about three years after the RFP is issued.
The destroyers will build on the capabilities of the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) and Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) warships while incorporating newer sensors, weapons, electronic warfare capabilities and enhanced air defence systems, the report said.
Under Project 17B, the Navy plans to build six advanced stealth frigates at an estimated cost of ₹40,000 crore. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) will share the project, with each shipyard building three frigates.
The RFP for the project is expected to be issued in the next 18 months, the report said, adding that construction is likely to begin within the next four years.
Among the three projects, Project 18A is the most ambitious, with officials describing it as the Indian Navy's next-generation large surface combatant programme. NDTV, quoting sources, said the Navy plans to build six warships of 14,000-15,000 tonnes—among the largest combat vessels ever to be constructed in India—featuring enhanced strike capability, stronger air and missile defence, advanced command-and-control systems and greater endurance for long-range deployments.
However, unlike Projects 15C and 17B, Project 18A remains at an early stage of planning, with the Request for Proposal expected to be issued over the next three years and construction likely to begin around eight years later due to the complexity of the platform.
