The Steel Cutting ceremony of the first ship of the Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) being built for the Indian Navy was held at the Cochin Shipyard yesterday.

The vessel will be installed with a formidable array of indigenously developed and manufactured weapons and sensors, significantly enhancing the combat capabilities of the Navy as a Future Ready and Combat Ready force.

It will be equipped with Surface-to-Surface Missile systems, Anti-Missile Defence Systems, Air Surveillance and Fire Control Radars. The Navy entered into a contract with the Cochin Shipyard for the construction of six NGMVs in March last year. The induction of these ships in the Navy is planned from 2027.