The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Imphal, its third Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided missile destroyer, at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard.
The ceremony comes after the ship’s successful test-firings of the extended-range supersonic BrahMos missile back in November.
Its armaments include surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and a Total Atmosphere Control System, which shields it from nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare.
INS Imphal is set to join the Western Naval Command, to be utilized as an anti-surface, -air, -and submarine warfare capability for India’s fleet.
INS Imphal’s commissioning comes a year after INS Mormugao, its sister ship. The fourth and final destroyer in their class, INS Surat, is scheduled for completion in 2024.
Work for the construction of all Visakhapatnam-class destroyers is estimated to cost around 35,000 crore ($5.3 billion).
An Upgraded Destroyer
As an updated version of India’s Kolkata-class ships, INS Imphal has a smaller radar cross-section, safer helicopter traversing systems, and a centralized network for its ship management system.
It can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots (55 kilometers/34 miles per hour), with a range of up to 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 kilometers/9,200 miles) at 18 knots (33 kilometers/21 miles per hour).
It can crew 300 ship personnel, and endure 45 days of uninterrupted operations at sea.
Around 75% of its components are locally sourced as part of the Make in India initiative, which seeks to boost the country’s business sectors through local manufacturing support.
