Stealth guided missile destroyer Imphal commissioned into Navy

INS Imphal is the first warship to have been named after a city from the northeast.

INS Imphal was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial programme both in the harbour and at sea. (X/@IndianNavy)

Stealth guided missile destroyer Imphal, which has an ability to fire extended range supersonic BrahMos missile, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar were present at the event that marked the formal induction into the Navy of the third of four ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, indigenously designed by the navy’s in-house organisation, Warship Design Bureau and constructed by defence PSU Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai. It will join the Western Naval Command.

INS Imphal is the first warship to have been named after a city from the northeast, said Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command. Approval for the same was accorded by the President on April 16, 2019, thus underlining the importance of the region for national security, sovereignty and prosperity.

The #IndianNavy commissions its latest Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer ‘INS Imphal’ at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.@rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/vA7xeZO8C6

— PIB in KERALA (@PIBTvpm) December 26, 2023

INS Imphal was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial programme both in the harbour and at sea.

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Imphal had successfully test-fired the extended-range supersonic BrahMos missile in November 2023, a first for any indigenous warship before commissioning, thus demonstrating the Navy’s thrust on combat effectiveness and confidence in its cutting-edge indigenous weapons and platforms.

Also Read | INS Imphal commissioned today: Its capabilities, and the strategic significance of Visakhapatnam class of destroyers

Measuring 163 metres in length, displacing 7,400 tons and with 75 percent indigenous content, Imphal is one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. It is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots and is packed with sophisticated ‘state of the art’ weapons and sensors such as Surface to Surface Missile and Surface to Air Missiles. The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar, which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship. The ship’s Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed Rocket Launchers, Torpedo Launchers and ASW helicopters. The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions and has a high degree of automation and stealth features further enhancing her combat capability and survivability.

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