The Indian Navy’s third indigenous stealth destroyer of the Project 15B / Visakhapatnam-class destroyer, the Imphal, made its first cruise on April 28. The ship is planned to be commissioned later this year. The Navy’s Warship Design Bureau designed the ship in-house, and Mazagon Dock Ltd. (MDL) was responsible for its construction.
The destroyer that will be named INS Imphal after the Northeastern city of Imphal will be the largest and most technologically advanced ship ever to be given that honour. The city of Imphal is a fitting reflection of the Northeastern area and the growing contribution that the state of Manipur is making to national security and development.
On January 28, 2011, the deal for the four ships that make up Project 15B was signed. This Project is a continuation of the Kolkata class destroyers, which were part of Project 15A and were commissioned in the most recent decade. On November 21, 2021, the Project’s flagship vessel, the INS Visakhapatnam, was officially accepted into service with the Indian Navy. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and Surat were chosen to christen the four ships that make up the Project. These cities are located in all four corners of the country.
On January 28, 2011, the deal for the four ships making up Project 15B was signed. This Project is a continuation of the Kolkata class destroyers, which were part of Project 15A and were commissioned in the most recent decade.
The maximum speed of the Project 15B ships is 30 knots; their length is 163 metres, while their width is 17 metres. These ships have a displacement of 7400 tonnes when fully loaded. Approximately 75% of the ship is made in India.
The arsenal consists of 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mounts, Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers, Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket Launchers, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles, and Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket Launchers. The weapons are also made in India.
The key sensors include IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-band AESA multi-function radar, Thales LW-08 D-band air search radar and BEL HUMSA-NG bow sonar.
