The Indian Navy’s newly built guided missile destroyer, INS Imphal, achieved a significant milestone by successfully test-firing the extended-range BrahMos missile at sea. This marks the first-ever test of the extended-range BrahMos missile by a warship before its commissioning, showcasing the navy’s commitment to combat readiness. INS Imphal is part of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyers, designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai. The destroyer, with a displacement of 7,400 tons and advanced weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, is a technologically sophisticated platform.
The successful BrahMos missile test underscores India’s self-reliance in defence capabilities and the navy’s firepower. INS Imphal, named in honour of Indian soldiers in the Battle of Imphal during World War II, is equipped with a combined gas and gas propulsion set, enabling speeds over 30 knots. Notably, the destroyer has a high indigenous content of approximately 75%, showcasing India’s prowess in designing and manufacturing critical defence components. The vessel’s construction, from keel laying on May 19, 2017, to sea trials and delivery within a record timeframe of six months, reflects efficiency and expertise in indigenous shipbuilding.