The Indian Navy commissioned its latest stealth guided missile destroyer, ‘INS Imphal,’ on Tuesday in Mumbai, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presiding over the ceremony.
Indian Navy Commissions INS Imphal
This event marks the formal induction of the third vessel in the indigenous ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, INS Imphal represents a cutting-edge warship with significant contributions from public and private sectors, including MSMEs, & the DRDO.
Delivered to the Indian Navy in October after rigorous trials in both harbor and sea environments, INS Imphal holds the distinction of being the first warship named after a city from the Northeast, paying tribute to Manipur’s sacrifices and contributions to India’s freedom struggle. INS Imphal symbolizes India’s growing maritime prowess and reinforces the principle of “Jalmev Yasya, Balmev Tasya” (One Who Controls the Sea is All Powerful) in the Indo-Pacific region. He hailed the warship as a shining example of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defense.
Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, speaking at the ceremony, pointed out INS Imphal’s capability to address physical threats from the seas and act as a deterrent against attempts to undermine national unity. He highlighted the deployment of four destroyers of 15 Alpha and Bravo class, currently countering piracy and drone attacks on merchant shipping.
Specifications
INS Imphal, measuring 163m in length, 17m in breadth, and with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, stands as one of the most formidable warships built in India. Propelled by four powerful gas turbines, it can achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots.
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Weapons
Armed with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, ASW rocket launchers, torpedo launchers, ASW helicopters, radars, sonar, and electronic warfare systems, INS Imphal boasts enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced radar cross section.
INS Imphal’s construction and trial timeline has set a record, with its keel laid on May 19, 2017, and sea trials completed in less than six months from its maiden sea sortie on April 28, 2023. The warship successfully conducted the first-ever test-firing of an extended-range Brahmos missile prior to its commissioning, making it “weapon-ready”. Admiral Kumar said that he anticipates the commissioning of the fourth Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, ‘Surat,’ in 2024. Prior to INS Imphal, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Mormugao, two destroyers of the same class, were commissioned in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
