THE Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) on Friday delivered to the Indian Navy four months ahead of contractual time “Imphal”, the third stealth destroyer of Project 15B Class guided missile destroyer. Imphal is the first naval warship being commissioned with accommodation for women officers and sailors, said MDL. The “Acceptance Document” was signed by MDL chairman-managing director Sanjeev Singhal and Rear Admiral Sanjay Sadhu. “Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered Third Stealth Destroyer of Project 15B Class Guided Missile Destroyer i.E. Yard 12706 (IMPHAL) to the Indian Navy,” the MDL said.

 

The ship is constructed using indigenous steel DMR 249A and is among the largest destroyers built in India, with an overall length of 164 metres and a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes. It is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare, the MDL said. “It is armed with supersonic Surface-to-Surface “Brahmos” missiles and “Barak-8” Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles. Towards undersea warfare capability, the destroyer is fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the hull mounted sonar Humsa NG, heavy weight torpedo tube launchers and ASW rocket launchers,” it said.

 

“Imphal”s all-round capability against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles and fighter aircraft will enable it to operate independently without supporting vessels, and also function as the flagship of a naval task force,” the MDL said. “Imphal has been delivered to the Indian Navy more than four months ahead of the contractual time as the most combat worthy platform to date. This reaffirms MDL”s commitment towards continuous improvement and mostly/ exceeding global benchmarks,” it said.