Expectations laid down by fellow members:
@Gessler :
What we need for Project 18/NGD
Hull
1. Enlarged length P-15B hull, going from 163m to approx 180m.
2. Enlarged beam & draught as per need.
3. Small well deck for operation of RHIBs/USVs from aft. (either/or Superstructure 2.)
Propulsion
1. Moving away from Ukrainian/Russian suppliers for gas turbines, shafts & other propulsion components and COGAG concept in general.
2. Adoption of CODOG or CODAG propulsion with US GE LM2500 turbines & French Pielstick or German MAN diesels.
3. Adoption of IEP to eliminate conventional transmission gearboxes.
Superstructure
1. Stealthy, angled superstructure with minimal surface discontinuities.
2. Enclosed, modular hangars on sides for RHIBs/USVs. (either/or Hull 3.)
3. Twin helo hangars capable of operating above 10T helos or multiple VTOL UAVs per hangar.
4. Flush decks on fore, aft & amidships.
Sensors
1. Indigenous AESA-MFR and AESA-ASR systems replacing Israeli MFSTAR and BEL RAWL-02. Drawing from Arudhra MPR, IAF HPR, IN LRMFR projects to develop next-gen AESA-MFR with GaN MMICs. Development of navalized BEL RAWL-03 AESA-ASR.
2. Indigenous AESA-FCRs for close-in weapon systems, possible adoption of Indo-French PHAROS radar.
3. Adoption of next-gen opto-electronic systems from likes of Tonbo Imaging.
4. All radars & optronic sensors integrated within a single, pyramid-esque integrated mast.
5. Next-gen sonar suite consisting of bow, towed & possible hull-mounted distributed arrays from NPOL.
Weapons
1. Adoption of true Universal VLS like US Mk.41 for all missiles except AShMs.
2. Emphasis on AAW and Land-attack capability with common VLS for up to 80-96 cells for any combination of Barak 8ER, XRSAM, AD-1, AD-2, quad-packed VL-SRSAM, Nirbhay LACM & SMART ASuBM.
3. Next-gen anti-ship capability with adoption of air breathing Scramjet-based AShM such as the planned BrahMos 2K with speeds of Mach 7 or above, housed in at least 16 Nos. dedicated VLS cells.
4. Possible adoption of navalized version of ATAGS 155mm gun, with guided & unguided projectiles.
5. Removal of RBU-6000/IRL-2 anti-sub rocket launchers.
6. Fully enclosed 53cm torpedo tubes.
7. Possible incorporation of next-gen CIWS solutions down the line, including DEWs and HPMs
Some of my expectations
1. Mission Bay on the stern similar to Turkish TF2000, or zumwalt class, would allow us to discreetly deploy and retrieve UUV's and USV's
2. Instead of American LM2500, we should go for MT30 engine as it's designed from the ground up to operate as part of an Integrated Electric/Full Electric Propulsion (IEP/IFEP) setup
It's a great engine that even the Americans were once considering for their DDGX program
www.ajaishukla.com
3. I doubt a P15B like mast would be able to hold the rumoured indigenous LRMFR which would be quite heavy due to it's size
Thus the new super structure should be a mix of type 55 and Italian DDX where the main radar would be a part of the bridgework/superstructure
Should be vaguely similar to this
4. An Integrated mast (similar to Japanese Unicorn Nora-50),
If I am not wrong we were once working on an indigenous mast like that,
View: https://x.com/idrwalerts/status/1582287008353128448
5. We still have enough time and can start working on an Indigenous ASR instead of screwdrivering Saab (RAWL-03) or Indra (Lanza) Radars.
6. If we can make Lynx U2 we can also make an indigenous CIWS FCR, no need to screwdriver french Radars. (Infact even the pvt sector has enough capabilities now to achieve this)
Not to mention is a separate FCR for CIWS even desirable, main naval guns would be guided by the main radar and next gen Gatling gun CIWS would have an integrated Radar of their own anyways
7. Multi purpose modular launcher CIWS which can launch anti Torpedo decoys, anti missile decoys (e.g NULKA) chaffs and flares, 70 mm rockets (against USVs), VSHORAD (against Aerial Threats)
Basically a better HQ-10
m.youtube.com/watch?v=w5JzM5Xu7MM
8. A next gen combat management system with more automation and, better sensor and weapons integration and scalable open architecture.
Not to mention a combined Combat Information Centre (CIC) housing the combat management system (CMS)
Also a more ergonomic, modern and more interactive multi screen Combat Management consoles similar to the Koreans or Americans would be great too.
Honestly speaking Combat Management System is one area where we need to seriously focus on because of advancements in AI and Unmanned platforms, because better the combat management system, better the situational awareness and better the reaction time.
9. We do need a true UVLS but not like American Mk 41 but more like Chinese concentric canister launch (CCL) system
With following capabilities
A height of 8.8 m and diameter of 0.75m (to be able to fire

, AAD and AD-1 and quad pack Missiles)
Capable of both hot launch and Cold launch (because other than brahmos nearly all of our Naval missiles are hot launched)
We would also need Another UVLS but it would be a Smaller Hot launch VLS which can quad pack Missiles and is smaller in height, (so that it could be used on smaller ships which don't need big missiles like AAD, AD-1 etc) something similar to Mk 41 ExLS but more Lightweight and smaller in height (6 m would be perfect) than Mk 41.
10. Given it would be a fully fledged missile cruiser anything less than 96 VLS would be criminal, I am wishing for 112 VLS cells.
11. A missile like HSTDV or

-2 would necessitate a totally brand new missile specific VLS because their diameter would be no joke and no UVLS would be able to accommodate them
12. IMO A 127mm gun would much better than a 155mm one, because those 155mm shells would use up the ship's volume like crazy,
13. Fully Agree We need to get Rid of RBU 6000, that thing eats up so much space without providing any tangible benifits
Instead we need our very own VLASROC
( VLASROC-SR with a range of no more than 60 km and VLSROC-MR based Prahaar with a range of 150 km, if we go any bigger the missile won't fit in our VLS tubes)
14. We don't really need 533mm Torpedos on our ships, literally nobody is using them from large surface vessels anymore, everybody is moving towards light Torpedos we are the only one insisting on launching heavyweight Torpedos from our surface ships.
Instead we should have 324 mm triple tube Torpedo launchers in a enclosed pop-out' hatch like on FREMM frigates
15. We really need to retire those Ak 630 CIWS, and replace them with something more modern which has its own independent FCR and EO sensors, along with the ability to independently process data on site via local computer in gun mount, this allowing for a faster reaction time
Basically something akin to Chinese Type 730
View: https://x.com/GODOFPARADOXES/status/1677203852381044736
16. Next gen RCWS (Remote controlled weapon station) with a 30mm single barrel gun (maybe a m230 or who knows even a GSh-30-1)