INS Imphal-Indian Navy’s Latest Guided Missile Destroyer, Sets Milestone in Test Firing

In a significant milestone for the Indian Navy, Yard 12706, the latest indigenous guided missile destroyer named INS Imphal, has achieved a ‘Bulls Eye’ in its maiden BrahMos missile firing at sea, as announced by the Indian Navy on Wednesday.

This marks a historic event as it is the first-ever test-firing of the extended-range BrahMos missile by a warship before commissioning, underscoring the navy’s unwavering commitment to combat readiness. The successful test serves as a testament to India’s pursuit of self-reliance (‘Aatmanibharta’) and showcases the formidable firepower of the Indian Navy at sea.

INS Imphal, the third ship of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyer, stands as a beacon of indigenous shipbuilding excellence. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, the ship is recognized as one of the most technologically advanced warships globally.

Named in honor of the Indian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Imphal during World War II, INS Imphal is a guided missile destroyer boasting a displacement of 7,400 tons and an overall length of 164 meters. Equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, the ship is a potent and versatile platform.

Powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set with four gas turbines, INS Imphal can achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km/h). With an impressive indigenous content of approximately 75 percent, the ship features components such as Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore), BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi), Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen and Toubro, Mumbai), Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen and Toubro, Mumbai), and a 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar).

The keel of INS Imphal was laid on May 19, 2017, and it was launched into the water on April 20, 2019. The ship embarked on its maiden sea trials on April 28, 2023, and has since undergone comprehensive trials in the harbor and at sea. Impressively, the ship is set to be delivered within a record timeframe of just six months.

The successful BrahMos missile firing underscores the prowess of the Indian Navy and its commitment to technological advancement and operational excellence.