The crest of Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third amongst the four Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers, was unveiled by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister Shri N Biren Singh, in New Delhi on November 28, 2023.
The unveiling of Imphal’s crest, adorned with the Kangla Palace and ‘Kangla-Sa’ is a befitting tribute to the sacrifice made by the people of Manipur towards India’s independence, sovereignty and security.
Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, this ship is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding and is amongst the most technologically advanced warships in the world.
Notably, the ship was delivered by the MDL to the Indian Navy on October 20, 2023.
A guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tons and overall length of 164 meters, Imphal is a potent and versatile platform equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
Further, powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion, the destroyer is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/hr).
The ship boasts of a high indigenous content of approximately 75% that includes the following:
- Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore)
- BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi)
- Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
- Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
- 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar)
To be noted that Imphal’s keel was laid on May 19, 2017 and the ship was launched into water on April 20, 2019.
The ship had sailed out for her maiden sea trials on April 28, 2023, and has undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea, leading up to its delivery on October 20, 2023 within a record time-frame of six months.
As part of the pre-commissioning trials, the ship recently carried out successful firing of an Extended Range BrahMos missile.
The time taken to build Imphal and for her trials is the shortest for any indigenous destroyer.
Also, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and other officials of Ministry of Defence and Manipur government were also present on the occasion.
Source: https://indiannavy.nic.in/
