Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has laid the keel for the first of six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) being built for the Indian Navy, marking a key milestone in the ₹9,805 crore shipbuilding programme.
The keel-laying ceremony for the first vessel, BY-531, was held at CSL’s Kochi yard on September 18. Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition at Integrated Headquarters, Indian Navy, performed the ceremony, which was attended by senior Navy and shipyard officials.
The NGMV programme was contracted to CSL in March 2023 for the construction and supply of six vessels at a total contract value of ₹9,804.98 crore. Delivery of the first vessel was originally scheduled within 48 months, with deliveries of the remaining vessels extending through the programme period.
Construction of the first vessel began with the steel-cutting ceremony in December 2024, when CSL cut the first steel plate for BY-531. The latest keel-laying milestone moves the vessel further into the fabrication and assembly stage.
The NGMVs are designed as high-speed, heavily armed naval vessels incorporating stealth features and advanced sensors. The Navy has identified maritime strike and anti-surface warfare among their roles, while the vessels will also support local naval defence operations.
The programme is also supporting the development of domestic capabilities in advanced naval shipbuilding. CSL has described the project as an expansion into more technologically demanding, weapon-intensive platforms.
In April 2026, Kongsberg Maritime announced a contract to supply 18 Kamewa waterjets for the six NGMVs, with each vessel receiving three waterjets to support high-speed and manoeuvrability requirements.
The keel-laying milestone strengthens CSL’s defence orderbook and keeps the six-vessel programme moving toward its planned delivery schedule, while adding another major naval construction project to the shipyard’s ongoing workload.