Navy orders INS Imphal, a stealth destroyer
With great fanfare at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, INS Imphal, a Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. It is the third of four destroyers of the “Visakhapatnam” class built in India; the other two are being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
Speaking during the event, the Minister of Defense called INS Imphal an “Aatmanirbharta” in defense, demonstrating the dedication of the Indian Navy, MDL, and all other stakeholders to national security. “INS Imphal is a symbol of India’s expanding maritime might and will only bolster it further. In the Indo-Pacific area, it will strengthen our tenet of “Jalmev Yasya, Balmev Tasya” (One Who Controls the Sea is All Powerful), he stated.
With a displacement of 7,400 tons and dimensions of 163 meters by 17 meters, the ship is one of the most powerful warships ever constructed in India. With four strong gas turbines driving it in a combined gas and gas arrangement, it can reach speeds of more than 30 knots.
With around 315 people on board, the ship is led by Captain KK Choudhury, an expert in gunnery and missiles. It will increase the Navy’s adaptability, reach, and mobility in defending the interests and maritime security of the country.
As previously reported by this publication, in January 2011, a deal worth around ₹29,643.74 crore was inked to build four ships under Project-15B. The project would ultimately cost Rs 35,000 crore. The four vessels have the names of important towns found in each of the four corners of the nation: Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and Surat. From 2022 to 2024, one of the remaining ships will be put into service each year.
Two destroyers of the same class, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Mormugao, were commissioned into the Navy in 2021 and 2022, respectively, prior to the commissioning of INS Imphal. The first battleship to be named after a city in the Northeast is none other than INS Imphal.
