Friday, 17 May, 2024
The guided missile destroyer INS Imphal is the third of four in the 'Project 15 Bravo Visakhapatnam class'. Image Source: Indian Navy
INS Imphal is armed with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) rocket launchers and Torpedo launchers, ASW helicopters, radars, sonar and Electronic Warfare systems
Tuesday, December 26, saw the Indian Navy commission INS Imphal in Mumbai. The INS Imphal's commissioning, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will increase India's maritime might. He asserted that India's military industry self-sufficiency is demonstrated by the induction of INS Imphal into the Indian Navy.
The guided missile destroyer INS Imphal is the third of four in the 'Project 15 Bravo Visakhapatnam class'. INS Surat will be the name of the fourth. "The most technologically advanced guided missile destroyers in the world" include INS Imphal. On April 20, 2019, it was introduced and "christened" as "Imphal." On October 20, 2023, it was presented to the Indian Navy. INS Imphal, according to the Indian Navy, is a "torch bearer of India's vision for Amrit Kaal."
According to the press release by the government, INS Imphal, India's indigenously built stealth guided missile destroyer measures 163 m in length and 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and is amongst the most potent warships built in India. It is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas configuration, and is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship underwent comprehensive and fine machinery trials before its induction into the Indian Navy. It is capable of launching the BrahMos cruise missile, the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile.
BrahMos Aerospace has placed a BrahMos missile at INS Imphal, according to Rajnath Singh. The ship is also outfitted to combat in scenarios involving chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
INS Imphal is armed with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) rocket launchers and Torpedo launchers, ASW helicopters, radars, sonar and Electronic Warfare systems.
Speaking on the occasion, the Raksha Mantri described INS Imphal as a shining example of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and a reflection of the commitment of Indian Navy, MDL & all other stakeholders towards national security. “INS Imphal is a symbol of India's growing maritime power and it will strengthen it further. It will bolster our principle of ‘Jalmev Yasya, Balmev Tasya’ (One Who Controls the Sea is All Powerful) in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
The Raksha Mantri defined INS IMPHAL as a conglomeration of different strengths of the nation. “Brahmos Aerospace installed Brahmos missile on the ship. Torpedo tube launchers are of Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Rapid Gun Mount has been installed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), and Medium Range missiles by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). In addition, many start-ups and MSMEs are involved in its construction.
India has been taking sincere efforts to provide a boost to its defence industry and bring Aatmanirbharta in defence. The value of defence production in the financial year 2022-23 has crossed the mark of Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time ever. “The value currently stands Rs 1,06,800 crore and it will go further up once the data is received from the remaining private defence industries. The current value of defence production in FY 2022-23 is a rise of more than 12 percent over FY 2021-22, when the figure was ₹95,000 crore,” the defence ministry said in a statement. The ministry has been working actively to address issues and develop defence production in the nation in conjunction with defence industry and their organisations.
The inclusion of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups into the defence supply chain is one of the policy reforms the government has made, according to the ministry, to make doing business easier. According to the ministry, these policy changes have promoted active involvement from a range of businesses, including MSMEs and start-ups, in the design, development, and production of defence products. “Over the past 7-8 years, there has been a remarkable 200 percent increase in the number of defence licenses issued by the government, further stimulating the defence industrial manufacturing ecosystem in the country and creating substantial employment opportunities," the ministry added. India's defence exports, meanwhile, increased by 24 percent to an all-time high of 15,918 crore in fiscal year 2022–23 from exports worth 12,815 crore the previous year.
Source: Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
The defence manufacturing sector has seen some major developments, investments and support from the government in the recent past. Considering the increasing security risks India is facing, the defence manufacturing sector is expected to experience significant expansion. This will increase demand for defence technology. Incentivised by various government reforms, India is quickly ramping up its manufacturing capacity. The Government of India has been focusing on making India a ‘defence exporting nation’ rather than a ‘defence importing nation.’
Speaking at the occasion, the Raksha Mantri also referred to the recent suspected drone attack on Merchant Vessel (MV) Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea and the attack on 'MV Sai Baba' in the Red Sea. He stated that India's growing economic and strategic power has filled some forces with jealousy and hatred. He added that the Government of India has taken the attacks very seriously and the Navy has increased its surveillance. He assured that the perpetrators of these attacks will soon be brought to justice and strict action will be taken against them.
In the second instance, a drone strike occurred on Saturday in the Southern Red Sea against the commercial crude oil tanker MV Sai Baba, which is connected to India and has 25 Indian crew members on board. The incident was made public on Sunday when the US Central Command tweeted that Houthi terrorists in the southern Red Sea had launched a drone at the MV Sai Baba. According to Indian Navy authorities, the Gabon-flagged ship MV Sai Baba has been certified by the Indian Register of Shipping. At first, the US Central Command had identified the ship as a tanker flying the Indian flag.
The Chief of the Naval Staff exuded confidence that the fourth Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer ‘Surat’ will be commissioned in 2024. Prior to the commissioning of INS Imphal, two destroyers of the same class INS Visakhapatnam and INS Mormugao were commissioned into the Navy in 2021 & 2022 respectively.
Admiral R Hari Kumar pointed out that to counter piracy & drone attacks on merchant shipping, the Indian Navy has deployed four destroyers of Project 15B & 15A class deployed. He added that the P8I Aircraft, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, Helicopters & Coast Guard Ships have all been deployed jointly to counter these threats.
Talking about the indigenization plans of Indian Navy, it has been pushing hard for the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)-II, which will have a 45,000-ton displacement and cost around Rs 40,000 with the planned specs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Vikrant (IAC I), India's first aircraft carrier built domestically, in September. INS Vikrant, which was constructed for about Rs 23,000 crore, features anti-ship missile weapons and a highly advanced air defence network.
It can accommodate thirty helicopters and combat jets. Modi referred to the ship as a "floating city" during the commissioning ceremony, saying that it represents India's transition to being a self-sufficient defence force. According to the sources, the IAC II will essentially be a replica of the IAC I.
The IAC II is scheduled to be constructed by the state-owned Cochin Shipyard. China's growing naval might and its increasing sway over the Indian Ocean region have prompted the Navy to submit a request for three aircraft carriers. INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant are India's two aircraft carriers at the moment. INS Vikramaditya is a Russian origin platform.
