KOCHI: Marking a momentous advancement in India’s maritime defence architecture and indigenous warship building capabilities, the keel laying ceremony for the first ship of the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project was solemnly held at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi on September 18, 2026. Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, graced the event as the Chief Guest, joined by senior dignitaries, naval architects, and executive leaders from both the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Limited.
Following the landmark contract signed between the Ministry of Defence and CSL in March 2023 for the design and construction of these high-speed combat craft, the commencement of physical hull assembly represents a crucial leap toward strengthening the Indian Navy as a future-ready, combat-credible maritime force. Engineered to operate in the complex geo-strategic matrix of the Indian Ocean Region, the Next Generation Missile Vessels will be outfitted with advanced stealth features, state-of-the-art surface-to-surface missile systems, modern anti-air weaponry, integrated electronic warfare suites, and sophisticated sensor packages. Furthermore, the NGMV platform stands as a shining beacon of domestic industrial self-reliance, as all primary role-defining combat systems, command-and-control networks, and propulsion auxiliaries are being indigenously developed and manufactured by Indian defence enterprises, directly aligning with the Government of India’s flagship visions of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Make for the World.
