Cochin Shipyard holds Steel Cutting Ceremony for first NGMV
The steel cutting ceremony for the first ship of the Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project took place at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi on December 16, 2024.
Cmde S. Parthiban, the Warship Production Superintendent in Kochi was the Chief Guest.
The Six NGMVs will be surface warfare Corvettes armed with anti ship / land attack missiles like BRAHMOS and will have advanced Stealth features like low radar Cross Section and acoustic, infrared and magnetic signatures.
Basically these ships will be replacing the Veer Class Corvettes. The NGMVs costing around INR 9805 crores are designed to enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian Navy, featuring state-of-the-art weapons and sensors.
These include a Surface-to-Surface Missile System, Anti-Missile Defence Systems, and Air Surveillance and Fire Control Radars, making them capable of operating effectively in the complex maritime environment of the Indian Ocean Region.
These 89 m long ships weighing around 1500 tons will have a complement of 11 officers, 2 trainee officers and 80 sailors. The range will be 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km) at 25 Knots or 1,000 nmi ( 1,900 km) at full speed of 35 km thus giving around 10 days + endurance at sea.
The ships will carry eight surface-to-surface missiles, a full-fledged surface-to-air missile (SAM) system with 32 missiles, point defence capabilities and a 15 km range MR gun system.
The ships will also have radar and electro-optically (EO) guided close-in weapon systems (CIWS) with 360-degree anti-missile defence.
A contract for the construction of six NGMVs was signed with CSL in March 2023, with plans for the ships to be inducted into the Indian Navy starting in 2027.
The NGMVs with state-of-the-art indigenous weapons and sensors designed will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian Navy, making it a Future Ready and Combat Ready force.
All major equipment for the NGMVs has been developed and manufactured domestically, aligning with India’s initiative for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) and showcasing the nation’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.
These Ships will be more than 95% indigenous in all three categories that is Float, Move and Fight.
