India's Cochin Shipyard (CSL) has begun construction a new Indian Navy corvette that will be used primarily for anti-surface warfare.
The vessel will be the second ship of a new class of corvettes that the navy has designated as next-generation missile vessels (NGMVs). CSL will build six NGMVs for a total cost equivalent to US$1 billion.
Each corvette will have a length of 89 metres, a beam of 12 metres, a draught of just under 3.4 metres, a displacement of 1,437 tonnes, and a crew complement of 13 officers and 80 enlisted sailors.
A combined diesel or gas propulsion arrangement will include two Pielstick diesel engines and a GE LM2500 gas turbine. This configuration will drive Kongsberg Kamewa waterjets to deliver a speed of 35 knots and a range of 2,800 nautical miles at 25 knots.
Armament will include a Leonardo/OTO Melara 76mm super rapid gun, two AK-630M 30mm close-in weapon systems, two remotely controlled 12.7mm machine guns, BrahMos anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, counter-drone missiles, and two loitering munitions.
