In an impressive ceremony the indigenous stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal was inducted into the Indian Navy following the commissioning of the warship at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon.
Indian Navy delivered a hatrick in three years
Indian Navy has delivered a hatrick with the delivery of three project 15B destroyers in three consecutive years even during COVID pandemic lockdown commissions INS Visakhapatnam in 2021, INS Mormugao in 2022 and INS Imphal in 2023 while the fourth and final Surat will join illustrious sister ships 2024 early next year.
Elaborating on the threats posed by drone attacks on commercial ships, the Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said “Even as we speak we have 4 Destroyers of Project 15B & 15A class deployed to counter piracy & drone attacks on merchant shipping. Also the P8I Aircraft, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, Helicopters & Coast Guard Ships all deployed jointly to counter these threats.”
The chief of naval staff admiral Hari Kumar announced the crew of all the new warships inducted into the Indian Navy youth agniveers from every district of India.
“All naval ships will comprise personnel from every cross-section of our society, from every region and state of our demographically rich country - all forged into one strong team that is ready to stake their lives for each other and for the tricolour,” said admiral Hari Kumar.
What does commissioning of INS Imphal into the naval fleet imply?
According to the Indian Navy chief Admiral Hari Kumar, the commissioning of INS Imphal into the naval fleet will not only tackle physical threats that emanate at or from the seas, but more importantly, through a demonstrated strength of an integrated Bharat, she will deter nefarious designs trying to subvert our national unity.
The Indian Navy strategy to induct at least an Agniveer from 'each district, each block and each village' of India to attract youth and up-skill them when in Service, certify their abilities through education institutions, inculcate a spirit of nationalism and ensure that they re-join the civil sector as invaluable assets.
'Warship Imphal holds a special place in the Navy'
“The vision is to percolate such a nationalistic workforce across the length and breadth of the country. It is in this context, warship Imphal holds a special place in the Navy, for the State of Manipur, the North East, as well as for Bharat. As reflected in the ship's crest, true to the spirit of the Kangla-Sa with its Dragon's head and the Lion's body,” said admiral R Hari Kumar.
INS Imphal is the first warship to have successfully undertaken test firing of the BrahMos Surface to Surface Missile, even before commissioning and induction into the Indian Navy.
