The steel cutting ceremony of the second ship of the Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project for the Indian Navy was held at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, on September 17, 2026. Rear Admiral Kapil Mehta, Assistant Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL were also present.
The contract for construction of the NGMVs was concluded with CSL in March 2023. The vessels are planned to be equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, which are intended to enhance the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities and support its preparedness for operations in the complex maritime environment of the Indian Ocean Region.
The construction programme also highlights India’s growing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. According to the Ministry of Defence, all major role-defining equipment for the vessels have been indigenously developed and manufactured, supporting the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Make for the World.
The steel cutting marks an important stage in the construction of the second NGMV and adds momentum to India’s efforts to develop a modern and increasingly indigenous naval fleet.