Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer Imphal at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 26 Dec 2023 in presence of Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh as Chief Guest. The event marks the formal induction into Navy of the third of four Visakhapatnam Class destroyers, indigenously designed by Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, WDB and constructed by MDL, Mumbai. Notably, Imphal is the first warship to have been named after a city from North East, the approval for which was accorded by President on 16 Apr 2019, thus underlining the importance of the region for national security, sovereignty and prosperity. Imphal was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 Oct 2023 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial programme both in the harbour and at sea. Subsequently, the ship successfully test-fired the extended-range supersonic Brahmos missile in Nov 2023, a first for any indigenous warship before commissioning, thus demonstrating Navy’s thrust on combat effectiveness and confidence in its cutting-edge indigenous weapons and platforms. Following this milestone achievement, the ship’s crest was unveiled by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri at New Delhi on 28 Nov 2023, in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur and other senior dignitaries. Upon commissioning, INS Imphal will join WNC. Project 15B is the latest in the lineage of Project 15A Kolkata class and Project 15 Delhiclass indigenous destroyers with upgraded capabilities and greater indigenous content. Measuring 163m in length, displacing 7,400 tons and with 75% indigenous content, Imphal can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. A testament to India’s growing shipbuilding prowess in pursuit of the national vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Imphal is also a true harbinger of a developed India, in tune with the national vision for Amrit Kaal.
