The keel laying ceremony of the first ship under the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project was held at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) in Kochi on September 18, 2026, marking a key milestone in the construction programme.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, was the chief guest at the ceremony. Senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL were also present.
Advanced missile vessels
The contract for construction of the NGMVs was concluded with CSL in March 2023.
The vessels are planned to be equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, which are expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities as it works towards building a future-ready and combat-ready force.
The NGMVs are intended to strengthen the Navy’s operational capabilities in India’s maritime security environment, particularly in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region.
Boost to indigenous defence manufacturing
The project also highlights the increasing role of India’s domestic defence industry in warship construction.
According to the Indian Navy, all major role-defining equipment for the NGMVs is being indigenously developed and manufactured. This aligns the project with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, while also supporting the broader objective of developing defence products for global markets under the Make for the World approach.
The construction programme is expected to contribute to India’s shipbuilding ecosystem by involving domestic suppliers and strengthening capabilities across the naval defence manufacturing value chain.
The keel laying marks the formal commencement of a major stage in the construction of the first NGMV and reinforces India’s focus on expanding indigenous capabilities in advanced naval platforms