Kongsberg Signs Contract for 18 Kamewa Waterjets for India NGMV

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjets for the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) programme. The deal ties a European propulsion supplier to an Indian surface-strike platform, improving the ship’s handling and propulsion flexibility.

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjets for the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) programme. The agreement covers propulsion components that will be installed on the NGMV vessels as part of their build.

The NGMV programme targets a next-step surface combatant role for India, with missile capability as a core requirement reflected in the platform’s name. By focusing on the waterjet system, the contract underlines that propulsion integration will matter as much as weapons fit for meeting speed and maneuver demands.

Strategically, the order strengthens India’s expanding surface combatant industrial base with imported high-performance marine technology. It also signals sustained defense-industrial linkages between New Delhi and a European defense supplier, with Kongsberg remaining positioned in roles that support platform performance.

Operationally, the contract specifies “large Kamewa waterjets,” meaning the supplier will deliver a set of high-thrust waterjet units designed for warship installation. Waterjets use an intake, pump, and nozzle arrangement to produce thrust by accelerating water rearward, offering compact packaging and fine control compared with some traditional screw-propeller layouts.

The next steps hinge on shipbuilding integration and commissioning. Once the waterjets enter the installation phase, India can pursue higher confidence in propulsion characteristics early in trials, and Kongsberg may gain leverage for follow-on support and additional propulsion-related orders linked to NGMV construction.