News Excerpt:

Recently, INS Imphal (Pennant D68), the third of four warships of Project 15B that together form the Visakhapatnam class stealth-guided missile destroyers, has been commissioned into the Indian Navy.

Key points:

• INS Imphal is the first warship to have been named after a city from the Northeastern region, the approval for which was accorded by the President in April 2019. 
• The naming of the ship after the capital city of Manipur underlines the importance of the Northeastern region for national security and prosperity.

About:

• Project 15:

• • It included the Delhi class of ships - INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai. 
  • These ships were commissioned between 1997 and 2001.

• Project 15 A:

• • Between 2014 and 2016, the Indian Navy commissioned three Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers.
  • The Kolkata class included INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai.

• Project 15 B:

• • The lead ship of Project 15B, INS Visakhapatnam (Pennant No D66), was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2021.

• • • The class is identified by its lead ship, INS Visakhapatnam.

• • The second ship, INS Mormugao (D67), was commissioned in 2022.

• • The fourth ship, D69, which when commissioned will be christened INS Surat, was launched last year.

• • Ships under Project 15 B are Designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) in Mumbai.
  • The four ships of Project 15B are christened after major cities from all four corners of the country — Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
• A ship class signifies a group of ships built with similar tonnage, usage, capabilities and weaponry.

Technological Characteristics and Armament of Visakhapatnam Class:

• The four ships of Visakhapatnam class, weighing 7,400 tonnes, are 163 meters long and 17.4 meters wide.
• They have a total atmospheric control system (TACS) to protect the crew from chemical, biological, and nuclear threats.
• They are also equipped with a state-of-the-art combat management system that can evaluate threats using analytical tools and create a tactical picture that includes available resources on board.
• A secure network manages data from all sensors and weapons systems.
• The ship has a ‘combined gas and gas’ (COGAG) configuration integrating four gas turbines with a maximum speed of 30 knots and a maximum range of 4000 nautical miles.
• The arsenal of the Visakhapatnam class has BrahMos surface-to-surface cruise missiles and vertically launched Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles for long-range engagement of shore and sea-based targets.
• The forward bow deck of the ship has a 127 mm main gun and four AK-630 30mm guns for close-point engagement.
• The ship is armed with indigenously developed 533 mm torpedo launchers and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers to provide anti-submarine warfare capability.
• It can operate two multi-role helicopters, including Sea King or HAL Dhruv. The ship has a rail-less helicopter traversing and also has a hangar facility.

Strategic Significance:

• These Destroyers are warships with high speed, manoeuvrability, and endurance designed for naval formations like fleets or carrier battle groups.
• Guided missile destroyers are armed with guided missiles for anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.
• These destroyers are crucial in offensive naval operations.
• Its stealth feature gives it the radar signature of a small ship, while its high indigenous component gives it a strategic edge.
• The Visakhapatnam class is one of the most advanced ships in the Indian Navy, capable of operating independently even without a large formation.

Conclusion:

INS Imphal is a key asset in network-centric warfare, using information technology and computer networking tools to form networks of force elements in conflict scenarios.