Defence minister Rajnath Singh (3R), Manipur CM N Biren Singh (2R), CDS Gen Anil Chauhan (3L) and Navy chief Admiral Hari Kumar (2L) along during the unveiling of Imphal’ crest. (Photo: Defence ministry)
New Delhi: The crest of “Yard 12706” (to be christened as INS Imphal on commissioning), the third among the four Project 15B stealth guided-missile destroyers being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was unveiled by the defence minister, Rajnath Singh, and the chief minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, at a ceremony held in the national capital, on Tuesday. The chief of defence staff, General Anil Chauhan; the chief of naval staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar; and senior defence ministry and Manipur government officials were also present on the occasion.
Imphal is the name of the capital of Manipur.
The Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyer was built at a cost of ₹35,800. It was delivered by MDL to the Indian Navy on October 20, 2023. As part of the pre-commissioning trials, the ship recently carried out successful firing of an extended-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Officials said the successful test-firing of the missile made it an ideal milestone for unveiling the crest.
Maiden BrahMos Firing by the Latest Guided Missile Destroyer Imphal.
— India Sentinels (@indiasentinels) November 22, 2023
The ship is yet to be commissioned
This is the first ever test-firing of the Extended Range Brahmos missile *by a warship before the commissioning*@indiannavy @BrahMosMissile pic.twitter.com/6MzBpAak3w
The crest design depicts the Kangla Palace on the left and “Kangla-Sa” on the right. The Kangla Palace is an important historical and archaeological site of Manipur and was the traditional seat of the past kingdom. With a dragon’s head and lion’s body, the “Kangla-Sa” is a mythical being from Manipur history and is symbolic as the guardian/ protector of its people. The “Kangla-Sa” is also the state emblem of Manipur.
Imphal’s crest.
About Imphal
Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, this ship is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding and is among the most technologically advanced warships in the world. A guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tons (6713.17 tonnes) and overall length of 164 metres, Imphal is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. Powered by combined gas and gas (COGAG) propulsion, she can achieve speeds more than 30 knots (56 kilometres per hour).
The ship has a high indigenous content of approximately 75 per cent. Some of them are:
* Medium-range surface-to-air missiles, built by Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore.
* BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, built by BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi.
* Indigenous torpedo tube launchers, built by Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai.
* Anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, built by Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai.
* 76mm super-rapid gun mount, built by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Haridwar.
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 had undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea.
The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20, 2023, within a record six months. The time taken to build Imphal and for her trials is the shortest for any indigenous destroyer.
It is a maritime tradition and a naval custom according to which many Indian naval ships have been named after prominent cities, mountain ranges, rivers, ponds, and islands. The Navy says it is “immensely proud” of naming its latest and technologically most advanced warship after the historic city of Imphal. It may be noted that this is the first capital warship to be named after a city in northeast India.
The ship is slated to be commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 23.
