Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has formally laid the keel of the first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) for the Indian Navy on 18 September 2026 at Kochi, marking a major milestone in India’s naval modernisation program.

The ₹9,804 crore contract covers six vessels, each designed for high-speed maritime strike and anti-surface warfare operations.

The keel-laying ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition at the Integrated Headquarters of the Indian Navy. CSL Chairman and Managing Director Jose V J, Rear Admiral Kapil Mehta, Director (Operations) S Harikrishnan, flag officers, and senior officials from the Southern Naval Command were present. Representatives from the Warship Overseeing Team, Indian Register of Shipping, CSL officials, and shipyard workers also attended, underscoring the importance of the event.

The first vessel, identified as BY 531, symbolises the formal commencement of construction. This follows the steel-cutting of the same vessel in December 2024, which marked the beginning of fabrication.

The contract for six NGMVs was signed on 30 March 2023, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 onwards. The program represents CSL’s entry into building advanced weapon-intensive naval platforms, moving beyond conventional support vessels.

The NGMVs are envisaged as high-speed vessels capable of reaching a maximum speed of 33 knots. Each ship will accommodate 80 personnel. They will be fitted with surface-to-surface missile systems, anti-missile defence systems, air surveillance radars, and fire control radars.

These systems will provide offensive capability against enemy warships, merchantmen, and land targets, while also enabling maritime strike and anti-surface warfare operations. The vessels will serve as potent sea-denial platforms, particularly at choke points in the Indian Ocean Region.

In defensive roles, the NGMVs will be deployed for local naval defence operations and seaward defence of offshore development areas. They will also feature advanced integrated platform management systems, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, power generation and distribution systems, and damage-control machinery.

Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime has been contracted to supply 18 Kamewa waterjets, three for each vessel, highlighting the emphasis on speed and manoeuvrability.

The ₹9,804 crore program aligns with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, emphasising indigenous defence production while integrating select foreign technologies for propulsion. CSL’s expansion into advanced combatant construction reflects India’s strategic push to strengthen its naval strike capabilities and reduce reliance on imports.

The NGMVs will complement larger surface combatants such as destroyers and frigates, providing rapid strike capability and enhancing India’s deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific. Their induction will significantly bolster the Navy’s ability to conduct offensive and defensive operations in contested maritime zones.

PTI