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Following the successful launch under Project 15B, INS Imphal was launched amidst cheers of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai, at Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders.

The guided missile destroyer INS Imphal slipped into the waters at 1220pm today, becoming the third ship after INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao to reach the open seas. The Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers consists of 4 ships, INS Porbandar being the fourth in line. These ships are an improved version of the Kolkatta Class Project 15A ships and feature enhanced stealth characteristics.

The ship was released to the seas amidst the presence of a huge gathering of cheering staff of the Mazagaon Dock and officers of the Indian Navy.

“The synergic partnership of MDL, Indian Navy, DRDO, OFB, BEL, other public sector enterprises and the private industry is ensuring that force levels are made available to meet India’s national strategic objectives” – Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Naval Staff

Reena Lanba, wife of the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, and President of the Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) broke the coconut on the ship’s bow to launch the ship, as per the Naval tradition.

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Admiral Sunil Lanba congratulated the entire team involved in the building of the ship and said that the team at Directorate of Naval Design was contributing to the Indian Navy’s dream of transforming the defence force from being a “buyers” Navy to a “builders” Navy.

“The Indian Navy stands fully committed and we are extremely proud of the fact that all of our warships and submarines on order today are being constructed within the country”  – Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Naval Staff

Project 15Bravo, also called Project 15B has warships built with a length of 163 meters and 17.4 meters at the beam with a displacement of 7.3 tonnes. The machine is propelled by four gas turbines and achieves speeds in excess of 30 knots. The Project 15B category ships carry and operate two helicopters. Shaping of the hull and use of radar transparent deck fitting that make the ship difficult to detect, are some of the enhanced features that facilitate new and advanced stealth features.