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• Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy.
  

Project Imphal

• Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, this ship is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding and is amongst the most technologically advanced warships in the world.
• Being a guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tons and an overall length of 164 meters, Imphal is a potent and versatile platform equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
• Powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set, comprising four gas turbines, she is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h).
• The ship boasts of a high indigenous content of approximately 75% that includes Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore), BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi), Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai), Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai) and 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar)
• Imphal’s keel was laid on 19 May, 2017 and the ship was launched into water on 20 April, 2019.
• The ship had sailed out for her maiden sea trials on 28 April, 2023, and, ever since, has undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea, leading up to its Delivery within a record timeframe of only six months.
• The time taken to build Imphal and for her trials is the shortest for any indigenous destroyer.

Significance

• The delivery of Imphal is an affirmation of the impetus being given by the Government of India and the Indian Navy towards ‘AatmaNirbharBharat’.
• The induction of the destroyer, is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of large number of stake holders and would enhance the maritime prowess of the country in the Indian Ocean Region.

Project 15B

•  Four Guided missile Destroyers of Project 15B (P 15B) are under construction at M/s Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai. The contract for construction of these four ships was signed in 2011.
• These ships are amongst the most technologically advanced Guided Missile Destroyers of the world, with state-of-the-art weapon/sensor package, advanced stealth features and a high degree of automation.
• These ships are equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and long-range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM).
• The ship has several indigenous weapons systems like medium range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAMs), indigenous torpedo tube launchers, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers and 76-mm super rapid gun mount.

Other Three Ships of Project 15B:

• The second ship of P15B, Mormugao was launched in 2016, and is being readied for harbour trials.
• The third ship (Imphal) was launched in 2019, and is at an advanced stage of outfitting.
• The fourth ship (Surat) is under block erection and will be launched within this current financial year (2022) .

 Source- PIB