New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) The construction of the second Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) for the Indian Navy commenced with the steel-cutting ceremony held at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, marking another step towards strengthening the Navy's indigenous warship-building capabilities.
Rear Admiral Kapil Mehta, Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, was the chief guest at the ceremony, which was attended by senior officials from the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Thursday. The contract for the construction of the NGMVs was concluded with CSL in March 2023. The vessels are being designed to be equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, aimed at enhancing the Indian Navy's combat capabilities and supporting its objective of remaining a future-ready and combat-ready force.
The NGMV project is also expected to contribute to India's efforts to build a modern naval force capable of operating in an increasingly complex maritime environment, particularly across the Indian Ocean Region. A key feature of the programme is the indigenous development and manufacture of major role-defining equipment. The use of domestically developed systems reflects the Navy's focus on reducing dependence on foreign sources and strengthening the country's defence industrial base.
The project is in line with the government's emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Make for the World, with Indian shipyards and domestic industry playing a growing role in the construction and equipping of frontline naval platforms. The steel-cutting ceremony marks the formal commencement of hull construction of the second vessel under the NGMV programme and adds momentum to the Navy's ongoing fleet modernisation and indigenisation efforts.
