Defence Acquisition Council meeting tomorrow: Rs 75,000 crore deal for Indian shipyards, other things on agenda

Next Generation Destroyers (NGDs) for the Indian Navy are on the agenda for the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting on October 26. The project is being described as “futuristic” and will largely rely on indigenous manufacturing, with the warships to be built in Indian shipyards. The proposed deal is estimated to be worth around Rs 75,000 crore.

What makes the next-generation destroyers ‘futuristic’?

Highly placed sources said the Navy is looking “eight-ten years ahead” while planning the NGDs. The project will also have a strong focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with a “very high level of indigenous content” in the warships.

This localisation is expected to extend to weapons systems, including missiles. The destroyers are likely to weigh around 13,000 tonnes, making them significantly larger than existing Indian Navy destroyers. Sources said the vessels will also be “weapon dense”, indicating a high concentration of weapons systems onboard.

Hybrid engine model under consideration

Engine development has been a challenge for warship projects in the past. For the NGDs, the engine could follow a hybrid model, sources said. Some warships currently in service with the Navy use a combination of engines, depending on operational requirements.

The project remains at the conceptual stage, and detailed design work could take around four to five years. Sources said, “This kind of warship hasn’t been built before.”

What happens after DAC approval?

The DAC, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, includes the Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs, the defence secretary and the chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, among others.

If the council grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the proposal moves to the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for further consideration. The Defence Ministry generally aims to hold around 10 DAC meetings each year.

How will NGDs compare with existing destroyers?

The Indian Navy currently operates more than a dozen destroyers. The four Visakhapatnam-class warships are its most recent and among its most advanced destroyers.

At around 8,000 tonnes or less, these vessels are considerably smaller than the proposed NGDs, which are expected to weigh approximately 13,000 tonnes. The new destroyers would therefore represent a significant step up in size and are being planned around future operational requirements.

PremiumUpdated Oct 25, 2026 01:41 PM IST

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