Naval Procurements & Acquisitions: 02 April 2024

[Rakesh]

Minesweepers, Rs 30,000 Cr QR-SAM Deal: Rajnath Sing-Led Top Defence Panel to Review Major Buys on July 1
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/mine ... -152156674
26 June 2025

The Defence Acquisition Council, led by Rajnath Singh, will convene on July 1 to discuss acquiring new minesweepers for the Navy and QR Sam systems for the Army.

[Rakesh]

In an ageing submarine, an opportunity for the DRDO
https://chakranewz.com/critical-technol ... r-the-drdo
04 July 2025

[Rakesh]

Putin to offer India mega undersea boost
https://chakranewz.com/critical-technol ... rsea-boost
01 July 2025

[Rakesh]

17 warships, nine submarines await approval
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation ... t-approval
06 July 2025

Rs 240K crore projects in the pipeline to bolster Navy’s capability, next-generation frigates to be built indigenously

[maitya]

In an ageing submarine, an opportunity for the DRDO
https://chakranewz.com/critical-technol ... r-the-drdo
04 July 2025

Sandeep Unnithan, as usual, is making too much sense ... so, as a corollary, the MoD baboons will now find out a way not to implement it!!
And most probably the excuse will be funding shortage, again - suits these worthies perfectly, being career bean-counters all along.

[bala]

L&T (Kattupalli Shipyard) has laid the keel of the 3rd Fleet Support Ship (FSS) for the #IndianNavy today.

https://x.com/NewsIADN/status/1942962853570331082

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GvbKVOhW4AA ... name=small

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1948988108231639086 ---> From the Drawing Board to Dominating the Oceans, shaping India's Maritime destiny. The Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau - having delivered the 100th indigenously designed warship, is charging ahead with Next Generation Destroyers, Frigates and Corvettes towards #ViksitBharat2047. Watch the transformational journey of Indigenous Warship Designing and Construction, from Tug Boat and Seaward Defence Boat to the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier... and beyond.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1948988108231639086 ---> From the Drawing Board to Dominating the Oceans, shaping India's Maritime destiny. The Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau - having delivered the 100th indigenously designed warship, is charging ahead with Next Generation Destroyers, Frigates and Corvettes towards #ViksitBharat2047. Watch the transformational journey of Indigenous Warship Designing and Construction, from Tug Boat and Seaward Defence Boat to the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier... and beyond.

In the above video, the Navy has released renderings of the upcoming Project 18 Destroyers. Indian defence fan boys on Twitter have come up with their own renderings, based on the above video.

https://x.com/Raghunandan_05/status/1950108538010784111 ---> PROJECT 18 - Indian Navy's next generation destroyer.





https://x.com/Raghunandan_05/status/1950511695874658573 ---> The Present and the FUTURE.

[uddu]

Indian Next Generation Destroyer (NGD) Project-18



The Next Generation Destroyer (NGD) — also referred to as Project-18 — is being designed with a future-oriented philosophy aimed at ensuring relevance in multi-domain naval warfare well into the 2040s–2060s. While the final design is still under wraps, several key design philosophies and doctrines are already clear from official statements, leaks, and aligned global trends.

Design Philosophy of the NGD (Project-18)
1. Multi-Mission Modularity
Designed as a multi-role platform — anti-air (AAW), anti-submarine (ASW), anti-surface (ASuW), and land-attack.
Internal layout optimized for modular weapons payloads, mission reconfiguration, and sensor upgrades over decades.

2. Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP)
Adopts full-electric propulsion system (like US Zumwalt or UK Type 45):
Allows higher power output for energy weapons (DEWs), radars, and computing.
Quieter for ASW operations.
Supports future scalability to railguns or microwave weapons.

3. Stealth First: Signature Management
Significantly reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS), IR, acoustic, and magnetic signatures:
Flush-mounted VLS (Vertical Launch Systems)
Enclosed masts, angular superstructure, and heat suppression.
Builds on the stealth advances of Project 15B Visakhapatnam class, but takes it further, likely with composites and coatings.

4. Sensor Fusion + Battle Management AI
Uses centralized combat management system (CMS) powered by AI/ML algorithms.
Integrates:
AESA radars (multi-band, panoramic)
Active/passive sonar suites (including VLF/TAS)
EW and cyber situational awareness
Works as a combat cloud node in network-centric warfare.

5. Decentralized & Networked Warfare
Designed to be a command node in India's growing naval net-centric architecture:
Can coordinate UAVs, USVs, UUVs, and satellites.
Collaborates seamlessly with P-8I, MQ-9, GSLV satellite relays, etc.

6. Scalable & Indigenous Architecture
Focus on future-proofing and indigenous tech:
Uses open-architecture systems (plug-and-play)
Accommodates future Indian missiles, UAVs, EW, and railgun systems.
Likely will be the first class to fully integrate DRDO’s hypersonic cruise missiles (e.g., BrahMos-2) when ready.

7. Reduced Crew with Automation
More automation = smaller crew footprint, better survivability.
Greater reliance on automated damage control, self-diagnostics, and remote sensor integration.

[Rakesh]

A Possible Way Out of India’s Submarine Acquisition Conundrum
https://bharatshakti.in/a-possible-way- ... e_vignette
01 August 2025

https://x.com/Aryan_warlord/status/1951541247648112815 ---> Completely agree with @nitingokhale sir here that India needs to operationalize two different SSK production lines to ensure quick production of submarines in India. Will also state an obvious fact here, @MazagonDockLtd still has the old HDW type 209 designs and a substantial part of the TOT, why not work with HHI of South Korea to build a Brahmos type JV that can fill in the gaps & update the design in terms of equipment to create a class of lower end, cheaper, coastal, near-to-shore SSKs that can be deployed in large numbers to secure both peninsular seas. Could be an important stepping stone towards an Oceanic SSK of indigenous design.

https://x.com/Aryan_warlord/status/1951547048257581432 ---> I have earlier suggested the Indian Navy adopt a twin phased model with the "Home fleet " & the "Away fleet" being adopted as loosely structured systems where the:

1) Home Fleet operates all land based systems & craft with operational non refuelled range of less than 3,000 nautical miles & a core directive to patrol the peninsular seas & our EEZ.

2) Away Fleet operating all vessels with longer ranges with a core directive to take the lead in any action beyond our EEZ .

[Manish_P]

.....
https://x.com/Aryan_warlord/status/1951547048257581432 ---> I have earlier suggested the Indian Navy adopt a twin phased model with the "Home fleet " & the "Away fleet" being adopted as loosely structured systems where the:

1) Home Fleet operates all land based systems & craft with operational non refuelled range of less than 3,000 nautical miles & a core directive to patrol the peninsular seas & our EEZ.

2) Away Fleet operating all vessels with longer ranges with a core directive to take the lead in any action beyond our EEZ .

Don't we already have such a model - the Coast Guard and the regular Indian Navy.

Or is the poster proposing separate commands (and all that will entail) for them ?

[Rakesh]

Don't we already have such a model - the Coast Guard and the regular Indian Navy.

Or is the poster proposing separate commands (and all that will entail) for them ?

Home Fleet ---> Brown Water Navy. Partner with the Coast Guard to protect India's EEZ in peace time among other duties (ensuring the sea lanes are safe for trade). During war, the Home Fleet will be used to protect India's coastline. Frigates, Corvettes (i.e. Project 28 Kamorta Class) and SSKs will be major portion of the naval fleet in this setup.

Away Fleet ---> Blue Water Navy. An expeditionary fleet to establish Bridges of Friendship during peace time. During war, the Away Fleet will be used to establish a second front of India's choosing. Destroyers, Missile Cruisers (we do not have any till P18 comes along), Aircraft Carriers and SSNs will be the major portion of the fleet in this setup. Basically a Carrier Battle Group.

The SSBN fleet is a whole separate setup, unto itself. It does not (and should not) come under either of the above. It operates under India's Strategic Forces Command and is one of the three pillars in India's nuclear triad.

[Vayutuvan]

Destroyers, Missile Cruisers (we do not have any till P18 comes along), Aircraft Carriers and SSNs will be the major portion of the fleet in this setup. Basically a Carrier Battle Group.

Since we have two Aircraft carriers, does that mean we are planning to two CBGs? It is hard to imagine both carriers in the same CBG. Too much risk of losing both at the same time, IMHO.

[Rakesh]

Destroyers, Missile Cruisers (we do not have any till P18 comes along), Aircraft Carriers and SSNs will be the major portion of the fleet in this setup. Basically a Carrier Battle Group.

Since we have two Aircraft carriers, does that mean we are planning to CBGs? It is hard to imagine both carriers in the same CBG. Too much risk of losing both at the same time, IMHO.

The original plan is to have three aircraft carriers ---> one on either seaboard and one in reserve/maintenance. So basically on rotation.

We are nowhere near close to that goal.

[Manish_P]

Home Fleet ---> Brown Water Navy...

During war, the Home Fleet will be used to protect India's coastline. Frigates, Corvettes (i.e. Project 28 Kamorta Class) and SSKs will be major portion of the naval fleet in this setup.

Away Fleet ---> Blue Water Navy....

Destroyers, Missile Cruisers (we do not have any till P18 comes along), Aircraft Carriers and SSNs will be the major portion of the fleet in this setup. Basically a Carrier Battle Group.

...

The SSBN fleet is a whole separate setup, unto itself....

Ok. Got it.
(Quite doable without too much beauracracy)