India’s naval modernization is set to take a historic leap toward a sustainable and technologically advanced future with the development of the nation’s first all-electric warship. This groundbreaking project will see the Indian Navy transition from conventional propulsion to state-of-the-art Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) systems for its future frontline surface combatants.

While the project is in its design phase, the first electric warship is widely expected to be the forthcoming Project 18-class Stealth Guided-Missile Destroyer.

• Class: Next Generation Destroyer (NGD) / Project 18
• Displacement (Planned): Approximately 10,000 tonnes
• Propulsion: Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system.

IEP is a sophisticated architecture where electric power generated onboard is fully integrated to run not only the propulsion motors but also the ship’s entire services, including its advanced power-intensive weapon and radar systems.

The shift to electric propulsion offers significant tactical and operational benefits that will redefine the Indian Navy’s capabilities in the Indo-Pacific:

1. Enhanced Stealth: Electric motors are significantly quieter than traditional mechanical drive systems, drastically reducing the ship’s acoustic signature and improving its stealth for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.
2. Optimized Power: IEP provides a large, integrated pool of electricity, ensuring high power availability for modern energy-intensive systems like future directed-energy weapons (lasers) and powerful, new-generation radars.
3. Improved Efficiency: The system is expected to offer better fuel efficiency, lower operational costs, and reduced carbon emissions, aligning with global sustainability standards.
4. Better Survivability: Electric drives allow for greater flexibility in placing machinery, improving the ship’s modularity and ability to reconfigure power distribution, thus increasing redundancy and survivability under battle damage.

The development and manufacturing of these Electric Propulsion systems is a key focus area under the India-UK Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership, with British giant Rolls-Royce also expressing strong intent to collaborate with the Indian Navy, leveraging its experience from powering the UK’s advanced fleet, including the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier.