The keel-laying ceremony for the first ship of the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project was held at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, on 18 September 2026.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, was the Chief Guest at the ceremony, which was attended by senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL.
The contract for the construction of NGMVs was signed with CSL in March 2023. The vessels are planned to be equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, enhancing the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities and strengthening its vision of a “Future Ready and Combat Ready Force.”
The project reflects India’s continued efforts to build a modern and capable Navy equipped to operate in the complex maritime environment of the Indian Ocean Region. It also highlights the growing strength of India’s indigenous defence industry, with all major role-defining equipment being indigenously developed and manufactured.
The NGMV project is aligned with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Make for the World, further reinforcing the country’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
