GUWAHATI: Taking a significant stride in indigenous shipbuilding, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the Indian Navy’s INS Imphal, the third vessel in the Project 15B guided missile stealth destroyers, at a ceremony in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The INS Imphal, a creation of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, holds the distinction of being the first Indian Navy ship named after a city in the Northeast.
Expressing his delight, Defence Minister Singh shared his enthusiasm on a micro-blogging website, stating, “Delighted to attend the Crest Unveiling ceremony of INS Imphal in New Delhi today. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by MDL, this ship is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding. Happy to note that INS Imphal is amongst the most technologically advanced warships in the world.”
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and senior defence ministry officials.
Chief Minister Singh took to social media to express his pride, stating, “Honoured to join the unveiling of ‘INS Imphal,’ the impressive third ship in the Navy’s Project 15B, Visakhapatnam Class. This serves as a great achievement for India’s maritime capabilities and strengthens our National defence.”
Notably, on November 22, the INS Imphal made history by conducting the first-ever test-firing of the extended-range Brahmos missile by a warship before its official commissioning.
The warship, with a high indigenous content of approximately 75%, includes features such as medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, indigenous torpedo tube launchers, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, and a 76 mm super rapid gun mount (SRGM).
The INS Imphal is slated to be commissioned into the Indian Navy next month, marking a significant milestone in India’s maritime capabilities.
The vessel, designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), stands as a testament to indigenous shipbuilding prowess and technological advancement, solidifying India’s position among the world’s leading maritime nations.
