Project 18, Next Generation Destroyer (NGD) : News and Updates

Interesting tid bits from this promotional video of Next-Generation Combat Management System (ostensibly intended for NGD and NGF programs):


Could this be a conceptual render of the 10,000-13,000 ton NGD, unofficially known as the Project-18 DDG?

View attachment 24847

View attachment 24848

View attachment 24849

Few observations:

  • This is definitely Fincantieri-assisted design. Lots of similarity between this and the Italian Navy DDX concept (pic below), but there are key differences.
  • 72 VLS up front...another farm is present amidships, but I'm not entirely sure if its the same size but looking smaller due to perspective or if it's really a smaller farm. Either way, it would have 48-72 cells in the back for a total of 120-144 Universal VLS cells for SAMs, LACMs, smaller ASCMs, ASROCs etc. This is likely the same UVLS that was reported as being under development by DRDO.
  • They seem to have gotten rid of the BrahMos UVLM launchers (most likely the future BrahMos-II hypersonic missiles would have required the same or similar sized ones) and instead moved to 8 x inclined launchers for the SSM armament. It's yet unclear if the rear VLS farm is a 'modular' block which could be swapped for one equipped with large VLS for outsize articles (like hypersonics or SMART anti-sub missiles), such as what's intended for US Navy's DDG(X).
  • There is no visible secondary radar/volumn search radar anywhere. This could be an indication that the radar mast depicted here could be housing a multi-band radar setup (the LRMFR is already in testing on INS Anvesh) that can do both jobs within a single integrated radar housing, similar to what's on the Zumwalt-class.
  • The arrangement of exhaust funnels is unique and a lot can be inferred i.e. they are 100% moving away from Zorya-Mashproekt turbines and toward Rolls Royce MT30. MoUs have already been signed as previously reported, along with a joint development contract for customized IEP intended for warm-water applications between GE & BEL.

This is all of course considering this render is indeed somewhat indicative of the direction NGD/NGF are taking...if this turns out to be just a representative render, well then,...

Thanks to @Ashwin for finding.

@randomradio @vstol Jockey @Amarante @Gautam

Eq4K6qpXIAARqaC

The integrated mast with the big crown seems Indian to me... Higher mast = Longer detection range.

We are short of 5 destroyers, so this is the NGD design, even if it's just a concept. NGF should take a bit longer. But we are most definitely climbing up the totem pole.
 
View attachment 24873

NGD will cost ~$1.2 billion each and repeat orders for P17A will cost ~$1billion.

From MDL investor call
Wouldn’t it be more simpler to go with 2x order of NGD spread between two shipyards. With commonality of parts and repetition of work the price would have come down to an additional p17a batch cost anyway.

maybe the shipyards dont have the 13k ton dry docks to support it? 🤔
 
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Wouldn’t it be more simpler to go with 2x order of NGD spread between two shipyards. With commonality of parts and repetition of work the price would have come down to an additional p17a batch cost anyway.

maybe the shipyards dont have the 13k ton dry docks to support it? 🤔
Cochin shipyard do have the capabilities.
 
Wouldn’t it be more simpler to go with 2x order of NGD spread between two shipyards. With commonality of parts and repetition of work the price would have come down to an additional p17a batch cost anyway.
Any evidence of P17A cost coming down after doing that? PSU shipyards will remain inefficient.
 
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Wouldn’t it be more simpler to go with 2x order of NGD spread between two shipyards. With commonality of parts and repetition of work the price would have come down to an additional p17a batch cost anyway.

maybe the shipyards dont have the 13k ton dry docks to support it? 🤔

From the navy's perspective, operations cost, personnel requirements, even training requirements will be different. Their destroyer inductions are slower than frigate.
 
View attachment 24873

NGD will cost ~$1.2 billion each and repeat orders for P17A will cost ~$1billion.

From MDL investor call

Pre-construction DPSU cost estimates have a habit of going terribly awry.

Kolkata-class cost increased by over 200% of initial estimate, Shivalik-class was over 260% increase. At this point, these are just numbers to throw around as placeholders cuz you have to give something.
 
Pre-construction DPSU cost estimates have a habit of going terribly awry.

Kolkata-class cost increased by over 200% of initial estimate, Shivalik-class was over 260% increase. At this point, these are just numbers to throw around as placeholders cuz you have to give something.
We learnt it from Russia, bid with lowest possible price, so that others will not qualify and balloons the cost in middle of construction.
 
Interesting tid bits from this promotional video of Next-Generation Combat Management System (ostensibly intended for NGD and NGF programs):


Could this be a conceptual render of the 10,000-13,000 ton NGD, unofficially known as the Project-18 DDG?

View attachment 24847

View attachment 24848

View attachment 24849

Few observations:

  • This is definitely Fincantieri-assisted design. Lots of similarity between this and the Italian Navy DDX concept (pic below), but there are key differences.
  • 72 VLS up front...another farm is present amidships, but I'm not entirely sure if its the same size but looking smaller due to perspective or if it's really a smaller farm. Either way, it would have 48-72 cells in the back for a total of 120-144 Universal VLS cells for SAMs, LACMs, smaller ASCMs, ASROCs etc. This is likely the same UVLS that was reported as being under development by DRDO.
  • They seem to have gotten rid of the BrahMos UVLM launchers (most likely the future BrahMos-II hypersonic missiles would have required the same or similar sized ones) and instead moved to 8 x inclined launchers for the SSM armament. It's yet unclear if the rear VLS farm is a 'modular' block which could be swapped for one equipped with large VLS for outsize articles (like hypersonics or SMART anti-sub missiles), such as what's intended for US Navy's DDG(X).
  • There is no visible secondary radar/volumn search radar anywhere. This could be an indication that the radar mast depicted here could be housing a multi-band radar setup (the LRMFR is already in testing on INS Anvesh) that can do both jobs within a single integrated radar housing, similar to what's on the Zumwalt-class.
  • The arrangement of exhaust funnels is unique and a lot can be inferred i.e. they are 100% moving away from Zorya-Mashproekt turbines and toward Rolls Royce MT30. MoUs have already been signed as previously reported, along with a joint development contract for customized IEP intended for warm-water applications between GE & BEL.

This is all of course considering this render is indeed somewhat indicative of the direction NGD/NGF are taking...if this turns out to be just a representative render, well then,...

Thanks to @Ashwin for finding.

@randomradio @vstol Jockey @Amarante @Gautam

Eq4K6qpXIAARqaC

Next generation Combat management System....CIC👇


IMG_20221014_133002.jpg


If you notice It has a circular video wall which will allow it to display distributed aperture imagery , giving crew 360° view of the ship surrounding during day & night from cameras arrayed around the vessel structure.... allowing display of key information , such as target tracks and potential hazards over external view.

Buried deep in the ship for maximum survivability such design basically allow crew to execute all the task relating to weapon's control, sensors, engineering, navigation , steering , communication, damage control , fire suppression etc.
 
Next generation Combat management System....CIC👇


View attachment 25129

If you notice It has a circular video wall which will allow it to display distributed aperture imagery , giving crew 360° view of the ship surrounding during day & night from cameras arrayed around the vessel structure.... allowing display of key information , such as target tracks and potential hazards over external view.

Buried deep in the ship for maximum survivability such design basically allow crew to execute all the task relating to weapon's control, sensors, engineering, navigation , steering , communication, damage control , fire suppression etc.

The Japanese are already implementing something similar on the Mogami-class and its likely they are consultants for the same. They're also lending a hand in development of next-gen EW/COMINT/ELINT masts for NG combatants so its possible.

MELCO-developed Augmented Reality Wall CIC.jpg
 
If it was MDL only, then GRSE wouldn't be talking about it.
I have gone through both of those. MDL clearly said so. GRSE can hope for things, there is no tax on it.

There is not enough budget for 8 NGC + 8 P17B + 8* $1.5 billion NGD in one go anyway.