BrahMos Cruise Missile fired from Indian Navy Latest Destroyer Imphal hits "bulls eye"

In a groundbreaking naval exercise, the Indian Navy newest indigenous guided missile destroyer, Yard 12706, named Imphal, achieved a remarkable success during its inaugural BrahMos missile firing at sea. This historic event marked the first-ever test of the extended-range BrahMos missile by a warship even before its formal commissioning.

Imphal, the third vessel of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyers, stands as a testament to India prowess in indigenous shipbuilding. Designed by the Indian Navy Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, Imphal is considered one of the most technologically advanced warships globally.

The ship name, Imphal, pays tribute to the Indian soldiers who valiantly fought in the Battle of Imphal during World War II. Imphal is not only a symbol of national pride but also a versatile and powerful platform armed with cutting-edge weapons and sensors. With an overall length of 164 meters and a displacement of 7,400 tons, it showcases the capabilities of Indian shipbuilding on the global stage.

Impressively, around 75% of Imphal components are indigenous, including medium-range surface-to-air missiles from BEL in Bangalore, BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles from BrahMos Aerospace in New Delhi, indigenous torpedo tube launchers from Larsen and Toubro in Mumbai, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers (Larsen and Toubro, Mumbai), and a 76mm super rapid gun mount from BHEL in Haridwar.

The destroyer is equipped with a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system, driven by four gas turbines, enabling Imphal to achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km/h).

The Indian Navy guided-missile destroyer fleet comprises 11 vessels across three classes: Kolkata-class, Delhi-class, and Rajput-class, showcasing the country commitment to maintaining a formidable naval presence. Notably, six other destroyers have been decommissioned and retired from service, emphasizing the Navy continuous efforts to upgrade and modernize its fleet.