SOURCE: AFI
Destroyers, the fast, maneuverable, and heavily armed warships designed to protect larger vessels and project power, remain a cornerstone of modern naval fleets. A comparison of the world’s top five destroyer fleets—based on sheer numbers—highlights both the dominance of certain navies and the challenges faced by others, notably India. As of March 21, 2025, the United States leads with 81 destroyers, followed by China with 50, Japan with 42, India with 13, and South Korea tied with India at 13.
While India’s 13 guided-missile destroyers from four classes—Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Delhi, and Rajput—represent a capable force, the stark disparity with Japan underscores a critical gap in fleet size that the Indian Navy must address. The upcoming Project-18 Next Generation Destroyers (NGD) offers a chance to rectify this, but only if scaled ambitiously to 18-24 vessels with cutting-edge upgrades.
The Top Five Destroyer Fleets
- United States (81 Destroyers)
The U.S. Navy’s destroyer fleet, dominated by the Arleigh Burke-class, is the world’s largest and most advanced. Displacing 9,200 tons, these ships boast the Aegis Combat System, 96 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, and a mix of anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface capabilities. With 70 in service and more under construction, the U.S. leverages its industrial might and global commitments to maintain naval supremacy. - China (50 Destroyers)
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has rapidly expanded its destroyer fleet, led by the Type 052D (13 units, 7,500 tons, 64 VLS) and the Type 055 (8 units, 13,000 tons, 112 VLS), the latter classified as a cruiser by NATO but a destroyer by China. With a focus on the South China Sea and beyond, China’s 50 destroyers reflect its ambition to challenge U.S. dominance, supported by a robust shipbuilding capacity. - Japan (42 Destroyers)
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) fields a formidable fleet, including the Atago-class (2 units, 10,000 tons, 96 VLS) and Maya-class (2 units, 10,000 tons, 96 VLS), both Aegis-equipped, alongside numerous smaller destroyers like the Asahi-class (2 units, 6,800 tons). Japan’s 42 destroyers, optimized for anti-submarine and missile defense roles, reflect its strategic focus on countering threats from China and North Korea. - India (13 Destroyers)
The Indian Navy operates 13 guided-missile destroyers across four classes: Visakhapatnam (4 units, 7,400 tons, 32 VLS), Kolkata (3 units, 7,500 tons, 32 VLS), Delhi (3 units, 6,700 tons), and Rajput (3 units, 5,000 tons). These ships, armed with BrahMos supersonic missiles and Barak-8 SAMs, are potent but few, leaving India tied with South Korea and dwarfed by Japan’s fleet. - South Korea (13 Destroyers)
South Korea’s Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) matches India with 13 destroyers, led by the Sejong the Great-class (3 units, 11,000 tons, 128 VLS), among the world’s most heavily armed with Aegis systems. Smaller classes like the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (6 units, 4,400 tons) round out a compact but technologically advanced force focused on deterring North Korea.
The gap between India’s 13 destroyers and Japan’s 42 is striking, especially given India’s larger coastline (7,516 km vs. Japan’s 2,900 km) and broader strategic responsibilities across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Japan’s fleet, nearly three times larger, benefits from a post-WWII focus on maritime defense, U.S. technological collaboration, and a streamlined procurement process. Its destroyers, averaging 6,000-10,000 tons, are equipped with advanced sonar, Aegis systems, and a higher VLS count per ship (e.g., 96 vs. India’s 32), offering superior firepower and versatility.
India’s 13 destroyers, while modern and indigenously designed (except the Soviet-built Rajputs), are stretched thin across two fleets—Western and Eastern—facing threats from Pakistan and China. The Visakhapatnam-class, commissioned between 2021 and 2025, and Kolkata-class, inducted from 2014-2016, showcase stealth and BrahMos integration, but their limited numbers—seven total—highlight a production bottleneck. The Delhi-class (1997-2001) and ageing Rajput-class (1980-1990, one decommissioned) further underscore the fleet’s modest size and mixed vintage.
The Indian Navy’s Project-18 Next Generation Destroyer (NGD), revealed in 2023, promises a leap forward. Designed by the Warship Design Bureau, these 13,000-ton behemoths will feature 120-144 VLS cells, integrated electric propulsion, and indigenous weapons like the BrahMos-ER and VL-SRSAM. Posts on X suggest a planned fleet of 5-10 ships, with construction slated to begin around 2029-2030 and deliveries spanning 2035-2040. However, with only six vessels currently envisioned, Project-18 risks perpetuating India’s destroyer deficit.
The disparity with Japan—and the growing might of China (50 destroyers and counting)—demands a rethink. India’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan once aimed for a 200-ship navy by 2035, later revised to 175, yet destroyer numbers remain a weak link. Six Project-18 NGDs would raise the total to just 19 (assuming Rajputs retire), far short of Japan’s 42 or even South Korea’s 13 high-tech units. Scaling Project-18 to 18-24 vessels, as some analysts advocate, could transform this narrative, aligning India’s fleet with its geopolitical ambitions and IOR dominance.
For Project-18 to become the Navy’s standard destroyer, upgrades are essential. A 144-VLS configuration—outstripping China’s Type 055 (112 VLS)—offers a firepower edge, but integrating hypersonic BrahMos-II, anti-ballistic missile systems (Project Kusha), and advanced AESA radars is critical to match global peers. Posts on X lament the decade-long gap until NGD induction, with INS Surat (commissioned January 2025) as the last destroyer until 2035. Accelerating Project-18 timelines, possibly via parallel construction at multiple shipyards (Mazagon Dock, Garden Reach), could mitigate this.
India’s industrial capacity, proven by the Visakhapatnam-class (four ships in eight years), supports a larger fleet. Budget constraints—defence allocation at 1.9% of GDP vs. China’s 1.7% (with a larger economy)—and delays must be addressed. A target of 18-24 NGDs would not only close the gap with Japan but position India ahead of South Korea and closer to China’s numbers, ensuring a balanced fleet with carriers and submarines.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.