INS Imphal

Context:

• Recently, INS (Indian Naval Ship) Imphal has been commissioned into the Indian Navy. When a new ship is put into the water for the first time, it is termed as ‘Launching’, whereas when the ship becomes officially ready for active service in the navy, it is termed as ‘Commissioning’.

What is INS Imphal?

1. INS Imphal is one of the 'Project 15 Bravo Vishakhapatnam class'  stealth guided missile destroyers.
2. A destroyer is a big, strong warship used for protecting fleets, attacking other ships, and defending against submarines and aircraft.
3. A warship is a military ship used in combat or defense. Indian Navy’s operates toal 132 warships.
4. Some common types of warships include:

Aircraft Carriers	Huge ships that carry and control airplanes, like floating airports for military planes.
Destroyers	Big, fast, and strong ships for fighting enemies in the air, on the surface, and underwater, protecting other ships. Only 13 countries possess Destroyers.
Frigates	Smaller ships that do many jobs like guarding, watching, and defending against submarines, but not as strong as destroyers.
Submarines	Special ships that hide underwater, used for secret missions, attacking enemy ships, and staying hidden.

5. ‘Stealth’ means making a ship hard to see on radar, helping it stay hidden from enemies.
6. The 'Project 15 Bravo Vishakhapatnam class' refers to a series of advanced guided missile destroyers being built for the Indian Navy. It includes following destroyers at present:

Destroyer	Commissioning Year
INS Visakhapatnam	2021
INS Mormugao	2022
INS Imphal	2023

7. INS Imphal is the 1st warship to be renamed after a city from Northeast India. It is tribute to Manipur’s sacrifice & contributions in India’s Freedom Struggle.
8. It will join the Western Naval Command. A naval command is an area where the navy is in charge, managing operations and missions in specific waters.
9. There are 3 Naval Commands in case of India:

Naval Command	Headquarters	Region to oversea
Western Naval Command	Mumbai	Western & Southern maritime areas.
Eastern Naval Command	Visakhapatnam	Eastern maritime region
Southern Naval Command	Kochi	Southern part of the Indian Peninsula.

10. INS Imphal is capable of launching the BrahMos cruise missile, the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile. A cruise missile is a smart, long-distance weapon, and "supersonic" means it flies faster than the speed of sound. The BrahMos missile is a super-fast cruise missile.

Must Check: Best IAS Coaching In Delhi