The domestically constructed stealth guided missile destroyer, INS Imphal, is set to be officially commissioned into the Indian Navy on Tuesday. The induction of this warship is strategically aimed at enhancing India's maritime capabilities, particularly in response to China's escalating presence in the Indian Ocean. The commissioning ceremony is scheduled to take place at the naval dockyard in Mumbai, with the esteemed presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Notably, INS Imphal holds the distinction of being the first warship named after a city from the Northeastern region, a decision approved by the President in April 2019. This nomenclature underscores the vital role of the Northeastern regions in national security and prosperity.

Belonging to the 'Vishakhapatnam' class, INS Imphal is the third of four destroyers designed indigenously by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau. Constructed by Mazagaon Dock Limited, the ship was handed over to the Indian Navy on October 20, following an extensive and rigorous trial program both in the harbor and at sea.

With a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and an overall length of 164 meters, INS Imphal is a formidable guided missile destroyer equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. Noteworthy features include a high indigenous content incorporating BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, and a 76mm super rapid gun mount.

The warship is powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion, capable of achieving speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km/hour). Importantly, INS Imphal is designed to operate under Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions, showcasing a high degree of automation and stealth features, thereby enhancing its combat capability and survivability.

According to the Indian Navy, INS Imphal stands as a testament to India's growing shipbuilding prowess in pursuit of the national vision of 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India). The ship's construction and trial time is notably the shortest for any indigenous destroyer, with its keel laid in May 2017 and its launch into water in April 2019.

In a remarkable achievement, INS Imphal successfully test-fired the extended-range supersonic BrahMos missile last month, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian-made warship to do so before commissioning. Following its commissioning, INS Imphal will be stationed with the Western Naval Command, further strengthening India's naval capabilities.