INS Imphal's international exercise noted

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 1: Noting INS Imphal's recent international exercises, M Asnikumar Singh, senior spokesperson of BJP Manipur Pradesh has extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for honouring the people of Manipur by naming the Nation's stealth guided missile destroyer after the State's capital city-Imphal.
According to a statement, INS Imphal (D68), the Indian Navy's Project 15B stealth guided-missile destroyer, conducted exercises with the US Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Gridley in the Arabian Sea on September 29.
These exercises included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck flying, anti-piracy VBSS (Visit-Board-Search- Seizure) training, and the sharing of best practices to enhance interoperability between the two navies.
Interestingly, INS Imphal has the unique distinction of being the first warship to be named after a city in the North East, underscoring the importance and contribution of the region, particularly Manipur, to the Nation and the Indian Navy.
In the statement, M Asnikumar said that the naming of INS Imphal is more than a naval milestone but a recognition of "our identity, heritage and invaluable contribution to Nation building".
On behalf of the people of Manipur, he wished the officers and crew of INS Imphal all the success as they prowl the oceans in their mission to defend the Nation and protect its assets.
"May the ship sail with glory and strength, carrying with it the spirit and pride of Manipur", he maintained.
Notably, the warship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 26, 2023, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
INS Imphal stands as a shining example of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in defence.