Keel Laid for Indian Navy's First Next Generation Missile Vessel at Cochin Shipyard

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) in Kochi on 18 September 2026. Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, was the chief guest, and senior officials from the Navy and the shipyard attended the event.

The contract for building the NGMVs was signed with CSL in March 2023. The vessels are to be fitted with advanced weapons and sensors, which the Navy expects will substantially strengthen its combat capabilities as a future-ready and combat-ready force.

The programme is intended to support the Navy's ability to operate in the complex maritime environment of the Indian Ocean Region. It also reflects the expanding role of the domestic defence industry, with all major role-defining equipment being developed and manufactured within the country.

The project aligns with the government's broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Make for the World initiatives.