Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) delivered the third Stealth Destroyer of Project 15B Class Guided Missile Destroyer, i.e., Yard 12706 (IMPHAL), to the Indian Navy.
Yard 12706 (IMPHAL) ship is constructed using Indigenous Steel DMR 249A and is among the largest Destroyers constructed in India, with an overall length of 164 metres and a displacement of over 7500 tonnes.
The ship is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas Propulsion Plant (COGAG), consisting of four reversible Gas Turbines, which enables her to achieve a speed of over 30 knots (approx 55 Kmph).
The ship Is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.
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 Is more versatile than the previous classes of Destroyer and Frigates in Naval inventory.
It has 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 to function as the flagship of a Naval task force. Project 15B
Project 15B (P15B) / Visakhapatnam-class is the latest destroyer design currently under construction for the Indian Navy.
These ships have been designed indigenously by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi.
