Cochin Shipyard Limited marked the keel-laying for the first NGMV on 18 September 2026, advancing a six-ship programme designed for high-speed maritime strike and sea denial with primarily indigenous systems.
The NGMV contract with CSL is worth Rs98.04bn and covers construction of six vessels, with the first delivery scheduled for March 2027.
Each vessel will be high-speed (up to 33 knots), crewed by about 80 personnel, and equipped with surface-to-surface missiles, anti-missile defences, air surveillance and fire-control radars.
The programme emphasises domestic sourcing of critical equipment and aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India policies.
# Keel laid for Indian Navy's first Next Generation Missile Vessel at Cochin Shipyard
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) laid the keel for the Indian Navy's first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) on 18 September 2026. The ceremony was presided over by the Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, vice admiral Sanjay Sadhu, with senior representatives of the Navy and the shipyard attending.
This keel laying follows the programme's steel cutting, which took place at CSL in December 2024. The contract for the NGMV programme was signed in March 2023 with a value of Rs98.04bn. The contract covers six advanced missile vessels. The Navy says the first ship is due for delivery in March 2027, with the remaining five to follow in subsequent years.
Steel cutting for the second NGMV occurred at CSL one day before the keel laying for the first ship, both at the Kochi facility.
The NGMVs are described as fast, multi-role missile vessels with a top speed of about 33 knots. Their primary mission set includes maritime strike and anti-surface warfare against warships, merchant vessels and land targets. Secondary roles include local naval defence and protection of offshore development areas. The ships are intended to support India's sea denial posture, particularly at strategic choke points.
Each vessel will be crewed by roughly 80 personnel and carry: surface-to-surface missile systems, anti-missile defences, air surveillance radars and fire-control radars. The programme specifies an integrated architecture that includes propulsion, navigation and platform-management systems.
Defence (Navy) states that most critical equipment for the NGMV will be domestically developed. That emphasis is presented as part of alignment with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Next milestones to watch are launch and sea trials for the first hull, follow-on module assembly for ships two through six, and integration trials for sensors and weapons systems.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has laid the keel for the first next-generation missile vessel (NGMV) being built for the Indian Navy, marking the...
Cochin Shipyard has laid the keel for the Indian Navy's first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV), marking a major milestone for the stealth corvette program. The post Cochin Shipyard Lays Keel for Indian Navy’s First NGMV appeared first on Naval News .
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