New Delhi’s state-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has laid the keel for the Indian Navy’s initial Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) in Kerala, marking the formal start of construction for the lead ship (BY 531).
The progress followed a steel-cutting ceremony a day earlier for the second hull (BY 532) in the series.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, presided over the keel-laying event for the initial platform.
For ‘Complex Maritime Environment’
The developments stem from an approximately $1-billion contract signed in 2023 between the Indian Ministry of Defence and CSL to manufacture six corvette-type vessels.
Once operational, the new fleet will undertake surface warfare, precision strikes against surface and ground-based targets, offshore infrastructure security, and choke-point interdictions across the Indian Ocean.
The project marks CSL’s first entry into building heavily armed, high-speed surface combatants for the service.
“The construction of the NGMVs reinforces India’s commitment to build a strong and modern Navy, capable of operating in the complex maritime environment,” the Indian defense agency stated.
“The project also underscores the growing indigenous capabilities of the Indian defence industry, with all major role-defining equipment being indigenously developed and manufactured. This is in consonance with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Make for the World.”
The NGMV System
The Indian Navy’s NGMV will measure 89 meters (292 feet) long and will be built with a 12-meter (39-foot) beam. It will accommodate over 80 sailors and feature a space for a rigid-hull inflatable boat.
It will be armed with Kavach anti-missile decoys, a 76mm naval autocannon, 30mm rotary close-in weapon systems, 12.7mm remote weapon stations, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, Very Short Range Air Defense Systems, and loitering munitions.
The warship is set to exceed an operational endurance of 10 days, a stop speed of 35 knots (65 kilometers/40 miles per hour), and a range of 2,800 nautical miles (5,186 kilometers/3,222 miles).
Its powerplant consists of a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine, twin Pielstick 12PA 6 STC6 diesel engines, and three Kongsberg Kamewa waterjets.