The keel of the first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) for the Indian Navy was laid at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi on Friday, marking a key milestone in the construction of a new class of frontline missile vessels.
The keel-laying ceremony was held on September 18, 2026, in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, who was the chief guest. Senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL also attended the ceremony.
The Indian Navy had signed the contract with CSL for construction of the NGMVs in March 2023.
The NGMVs are being designed to carry state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, with the vessels intended to significantly strengthen the Navy’s combat capabilities. The ships will add to the Navy’s ability to operate in an increasingly complex maritime environment, particularly across the Indian Ocean Region.
The project also represents another step in India’s push towards greater self-reliance in warship construction and naval systems.
According to the Navy, major role-defining equipment for the NGMVs has been indigenously developed and manufactured. The project is therefore aligned with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, while also supporting the broader objective of developing defence products for international markets under Make for the World.
The keel laying marks the formal beginning of the vessel’s construction at CSL and comes as the Indian Navy continues to expand and modernise its fleet with an increasing focus on indigenous design and production.
The NGMV programme is part of the Navy’s broader effort to build a future-ready and combat-ready force, equipped to respond to evolving maritime security challenges in the region.
