INS Imphal: Indian Navy's Cutting-Edge Stealth Destroyer Set to Join Fleet

The Indian Navy is poised to commission its latest achievement, the indigenously constructed stealth-guided missile destroyer, INS Imphal, on December 26. The commissioning ceremony, graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will take place at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, marking the formal induction of the third 'Visakhapatnam' class destroyer, designed and built by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau.

Here are 10 key facts about INS Imphal:

1. Naming Significance: INS Imphal is the first warship named after a city from the Northeastern region, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Northeast for national security. The approval for this unique naming convention was granted by the President in April 2019.

2. Indigenous Build: Crafted by Mazgaon Dock Limited, INS Imphal boasts an impressive indigenous content of approximately 75%. This includes advanced weaponry such as BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, and a 76mm super rapid gun mount.

3. Project 15B Lineage: INS Imphal is part of Project 15B (Visakhapatnam class), following the legacy of indigenous destroyers like Project 15A (Kolkata class) and Project 15 (Delhi class).

4. Formidable Specifications: With a length of 163 meters and a displacement of 7,400 tons, INS Imphal presents a formidable naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

5. Advanced Weaponry: The destroyer is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. It features a modern surveillance radar providing target data to the ship's gunnery weapon systems.

6. NBC Warfare Capabilities: INS Imphal is designed to operate under Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions. Its high degree of automation and stealth features enhance combat capability and survivability.

7. Propulsion Technology: Powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion, the ship can achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km/hour).

8. Aatmanirbhar Bharat Achievement: The Indian Navy considers INS Imphal as one of the most potent warships constructed in India, showcasing the nation's growing shipbuilding prowess in alignment with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat.'

9. Successful Trial Program: The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20 after completing a rigorous trial program both in harbor and at sea. It achieved a milestone by successfully test-firing the extended-range supersonic BrahMos missile last month, a first for any indigenous warship before commissioning.

10. Deployment: Following commissioning, INS Imphal will join the Western Naval Command, according to Navy officials, further strengthening India's maritime defense capabilities.