Cochin Shipyard Lays Keel For First Of Six Next-Gen Missile Vessels For Indian Navy

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the largest shipbuilding facility in India, has laid the keel for the first of six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) being built for the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition at Integrated Headquarters, Indian Navy, laid the keel for the first vessel, BY 531, at a ceremony on September 18.

CSL has a contract with the Indian Navy to build six NGMVs. The contract was signed on March 30, 2023. The project is also CSL’s first entry into building advanced weapon-intensive platforms for the Navy, the shipbuilder said.

The NGMVs are planned as high-speed vessels. They will have a maximum speed of 33 knots, with a crew of 80 personnel on each ship.

The vessels will carry several weapons and sensors. These include surface-to-surface missile systems, anti-missile defence systems, air surveillance radars and fire control radars, CSL said.

The main role of the vessels will be to attack enemy warships, merchantmen and land targets. They will also be used for maritime strike and anti-surface warfare operations.

CSL said the vessels can be used as sea-denial platforms against enemy ships, especially at choke points.

The vessels will also have defensive duties. These include local naval defence and protecting offshore development areas from threats at sea.

The ships will be fitted with integrated platform management systems, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, power generation and distribution systems, and damage-control machinery.

CSL Chairman and Managing Director Jose V.J., Rear Admiral Kapil Mehta, ACWP & A, and S. Harikrishnan, director (operations), attended the keel-laying ceremony.

Flag officers and senior officials from the Southern Naval Command were also present. Officials from the Warship Overseeing Team, representatives of the Indian Register of Shipping, Navy and CSL officials, supervisors and shipyard workers also attended.

The keel laying marks the formal start of construction of the first NGMV. CSL said the project is being built under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

References: PTI, The Hindu