Keel laid for first Next-Gen Missile Vessel, boosting Navy’s indigenous push

Kochi, Sep 19. The Indian Navy’s drive to strengthen its missile warfare capabilities received a boost with the keel laying of the first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) here on September 18.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, was the chief guest at the ceremony, which was attended by senior officials of the Indian Navy and CSL.

The NGMV project is aimed at providing the Navy with advanced missile vessels equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensor systems, enhancing their combat capabilities and contributing to the force’s objective of becoming a “Future Ready and Combat Ready Force”.

The construction contract for the NGMVs was signed with CSL in March 2023. The keel laying marks an important stage in the shipbuilding process and signals the progression of the programme from design and preparatory work towards the construction of the vessels.

The NGMVs are expected to add to the Indian Navy’s ability to operate in an increasingly complex maritime environment, particularly in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region. Their induction will form part of the Navy’s broader effort to strengthen surface combat capabilities and maintain operational readiness in India’s maritime neighbourhood.

The project also carries significance for India’s drive towards greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing. According to the Ministry of Defence, all major role-defining equipment for the NGMVs is being indigenously developed and manufactured.

This extensive indigenous content aligns the programme with the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India), ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ initiatives, while providing opportunities for Indian defence companies and the domestic shipbuilding industry to develop capabilities in advanced naval systems.

The NGMV programme thus combines the Navy’s operational requirement for modern missile platforms with the broader objective of expanding India’s indigenous warship-building and defence technology base. The construction of the vessels at CSL further underlines the growing role of Indian shipyards in meeting the Navy’s requirements for increasingly sophisticated platforms.