In December 2023, the [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of Naval Staff]], [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Sanjay Jasjit Singh]] revealed that a class of advanced Next Generation Destroyers (NGD) or Project 18 destroyers is being designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB). As of then, the design and contract signing for construction was expected to be completed by 5 years. The delivery was to be completed within 5-10 years of contract signing. The ships will have a standard displacement of 10000<ref name=":2">{{convertCite web |10000last=Deshpande |tfirst=Smruti |lkdate=2023-12-02 |title=Next-gen destroyers on drawing board, Twin Engine Deck Based Fighters expected by 2032, says Navy |url=https://theprint.in/defence/next-gen-destroyers-on-drawing-board-twin-engine-deck-based-fighters-expected-by-2032-says-navy/1868213/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>-13000 tonnes<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Indian Navy to get 8 Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) |url=https://ssbcrackexams.com/indian-navy-to-get-8-next-generation-destroyer/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |language=en-US}}</ref>. The leading contenders for the deal were [[Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders]] (MDL) and [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]] (GRSE).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Deshpande |first=Smruti |date=2023-12-02 |title=Next-gen destroyers on drawing board, Twin Engine Deck Based Fighters expected by 2032, says Navy |url=https://theprint.in/defence/next-gen-destroyers-on-drawing-board-twin-engine-deck-based-fighters-expected-by-2032-says-navy/1868213/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Kalyan |title=India to become 175-warship Navy with bigger destroyers in the next decade, says Chief |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-to-become-175-warship-navy-with-bigger-destroyers-in-the-next-decade-says-chief-2793206 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-20 |title=Indian Navy Expanding to Meet China Threat, Better Team With Allies |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/07/20/indian-navy-expanding-to-meet-china-threat-better-team-with-allies |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=USNI News}}</ref> The project, worth over $10 billion, includes a total of around 8 ships are to be built in two phases. MDL has also floated a tender to construct a floating dry dock near [[Jawaharlal Nehru Port|Nhava Sheva port]] for {{INRConvert|3000|c|lk=on|year=2022}} in 2022. This will assist them for the construction of these warships. Reports also suggested that the ships will feature an indigenous [[S band|S-band]] primary [[Fire-control radar|fire control radar]] developed by DRDO. This will replace [[EL/M-2248 MF-STAR]] radars used on previous ships like [[Kolkata-class destroyer|Kolkata-class]] and [[Visakhapatnam-class destroyer]]. They will also feature advanced indigenous weapon systems and an [[integrated electric propulsion]] (IEP).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2023-08-13 |title=India Proceeds with New Submarines, Surface Ships Development |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/india-proceeds-with-new-submarines-surface-ships-development/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":twitter">{{Cite tweet |number=1580814200347426817 |user=IndiannavyMedia |title=#PathtoPride @IndianNavy showcasing next generation Combat Management System in #DefExpo22. |date=2022-10-14 |access-date=2024-09-21}}</ref>
The [[Request for Proposal]] (RfP) for the destroyers are expected to be released in 2025-26.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-09-08 |title=Indian Navy mulls next generation corvette order at Rs 36,000 crore - OrissaPOST |url=https://www.orissapost.com/indian-navy-mulls-next-generation-corvette-order-at-rs-36000-crore/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=OrissaPOST |language=en-US}}</ref>
