On Wednesday, 18 April 2026, Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime, part of the Kongsberg Group, announced that it will supply 18 large Kamewa waterjets to Indian shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) being built for the Indian Navy (Bhāratīya Nau Senā).
Image: Kongsberg Maritime
Each of the future Indian vessels will be fitted with three large Kamewa waterjets, which will provide them with high maneuverability and speed. Although the value of the order was not disclosed, it was emphasized that this is the largest single contract for Kamewa waterjets to date and signals a strong return to the construction of large vessels using this solution after the relatively quiet period of the past decade.
A spokesperson for Cochin Shipyard Limited said:
“We are pleased to collaborate with Kongsberg Maritime for the supply of the waterjet propulsion system for the Naval project currently under construction at CSL for the Indian Navy. Kongsberg Maritime has been a valued and reliable partner to CSL across several commercial projects in the past, and the association has been marked by strong technical cooperation and mutual confidence. CSL looks forward to Kongsberg Maritime delivering a high-quality and reliable system in line with the exacting standards required for this important project and to their continued support in achieving an important milestone for CSL.”
Anders Valkeinen, Vice President, High-Speed Craft at Kongsberg Maritime, said:
“This is a milestone project for Kongsberg Maritime and a testament to the trust placed in our waterjet technology for demanding naval applications. Our Kamewa waterjets will deliver the speed, agility, and reliability required for these advanced missile vessels.”
Anette Holte, Country Manager – India at Kongsberg Maritime, added:
“We value our long-standing relationship with the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard and are committed to supporting India’s naval ambitions. This contract underlines our dedication to growing our presence in India and delivering world-class technology for critical defence programmes.”
Delivery of the waterjet propulsion units will be aligned with CSL’s NGMV construction schedule.
Kamewa Waterjet
The Kongsberg Kamewa Waterjet is a brand of advanced waterjet propulsion systems for high-speed vessels. It is a propulsion system in which a ship’s or naval vessel’s engine pumps water through an intake in the bottom of the hull and expels it at high speed through a nozzle at the stern. This drives the vessel forward or astern, eliminating the need for a conventional propeller beneath the hull.
Kamewa is one of the world’s most recognized brands in this technology. For more than 40 years, it has been a leader in waterjet propulsion for small naval vessels such as patrol craft, fast ferries, motor yachts, rescue and fire boats, and transport craft.
Kamewa was originally a Swedish company based in Kristinehamn and had been producing controllable-pitch propellers since the 1930s. It later became part of Rolls-Royce and has belonged to Kongsberg Maritime since 2019. The systems are still marketed under the name Kongsberg Kamewa Waterjets.
Main advantages of Kamewa waterjets:
- Very good maneuverability, allowing a vessel to turn almost in place.
- High speed, reaching more than 40–50 knots in the case of smaller craft.
- Shallow draft, making them ideal for shallow waters.
- High reliability and easy integration with steel, aluminum, and composite hulls.
- Good efficiency at high speeds.
They are currently offered in two main series:
- Steel Series: made of stainless steel for larger and fastest vessels, with power ratings of up to 36 MW.
- Aluminium Series: lighter units intended for smaller boats.
Image: CSL
Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV)
The contract for the construction of six next-generation missile craft, codenamed NGMV, was signed on 30 March 2023 between India’s Ministry of Defence and CSL and was valued at 9,805 crore INR, or 98.05 billion INR. Steel cutting for the first vessel (yard number 531) took place on 16 December 2024. Deliveries of the vessels, with yard numbers 531 through 536, are scheduled to begin in March 2027 and conclude in 2029.
Subcontractors for the program include Bharat Electronics Limited, responsible for sensors and armament, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, involved in construction work.
The NGMVs are to be missile corvettes with a hull length of 89 m, a beam of 12 m, and a draft of up to 3.4 m. Standard displacement is to be 1,437 tonnes and full-load displacement 2,200 tonnes. The CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) propulsion system is to consist of a single General Electric LM2500 gas turbine and two Pielstick 12PA 6 STC6 diesel generators, providing a top speed of up to 35 knots. Range at maximum speed will be 1,000 nautical miles, increasing to 2,800 nautical miles at an economic speed of 25 knots. Endurance is to be at least 10 days. The vessels will also carry one 4.7 m hybrid RIB. The crew is to consist of 80 officers and sailors.
The electronic suite is to include a 3Ts-25E Garpun-B navigation radar, an EL/M-2248 MF-STAR air-surveillance radar with an S-band AESA antenna, a Lynx-U2 fire-control system, an IRST electro-optical sensor, and Kavach decoy launchers. The armament is to consist of a single 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid naval gun, two 30 mm AK-630M close-in weapon systems, two stabilized remotely operated weapon stations fitted with 12.7 mm M2 machine guns, launchers for eight BrahMos or NASM-MR anti-ship missiles, and 32 vertical launch cells for VL-SRSAM very short-range surface-to-air missiles.