Shivalik-class frigate

The Shivalik class or Project 17 class is a class of multi-role frigates in service with the Indian Navy. They are the first warships designed with low observability features built in India.^[9] They were designed to have better stealth features and land-attack capabilities than the preceding Talwar-class frigates.^[10][11] A total of three ships were built between 2000 and 2010, and all three were in commission by 2012.^[2]

INS Satpura (F48) transits the Indian Ocean during Malabar 2012.
Class overview
Name	Shivalik class
Builders	Mazagon Dock Limited
Operators	Indian Navy Ensign Indian Navy
Preceded by	Talwar class
Succeeded by	Nilgiri class
Cost	650 Million USD^[1]
Planned	3^[2]
Completed	3
Active	3
General characteristics
Type	Guided-missile frigate
Displacement	6,200 tonnes (6,100 long tons; 6,800 short tons) full load^[4]
Length	144 m (472 ft)^[5]
Beam	16.9 m (55 ft)
Draught	4.5 m (15 ft)
Installed power	2 × Pielstick 16 PA6 STC Diesel engines 15,200 shp (11,300 kW) 2 × GE LM2500+ 33,600 shp (25,100 kW)
Propulsion	boost turbines in CODOG configuration.
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)^[8] 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) (diesel engines)
Range	In excess of 5,000 nautical miles (9,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)^[3]
Complement	257 (35 officers)^[6]
Sensors and processing systems	1 × MR-760 Fregat M2EM 3-D radar 4 × MR-90 Orekh radar 1 × Elta EL/M-2238 STAR 2 × Elta EL/M 2221 STGR 1 × BEL APARNA HUMSA-NG (hull-mounted sonar array)^[7]
Electronic warfare & decoys	BEL Ellora electronic warfare suite^[7] Kavach decoy system^[7]
Armament	Anti-air missiles: 32-cell VLS launched Barak 1 missiles 24 × Shtil-1 medium range missiles Anti-ship/Land-attack missiles: 8 × VLS launched Klub, anti-ship cruise missiles or 8 × VLS launched BrahMos, anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles Guns: 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun 2 × AK-630 CIWS 2 x OFT 12.7 mm M2 Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun Anti-submarine warfare: 2 × 2 DTA-53-956 torpedo launchers 2 × RBU-6000 (RPK-8) rocket launchers
Aircraft carried	2 × HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B helicopters.

The Shivalik class, along with the seven Project 17A frigates currently being developed from them, are projected be the principal frigates of the Indian Navy in the first half of the 21st century.^[12] Four of the ships of the class were built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), manufacturers of the Mahendragiri.^[13] The class and the lead vessel have been named for the Shivalik hills. Subsequent vessels in the class are also named for hill ranges in India.^[2]

Design and description

Project 17 was conceived in the 1990s to meet the Indian Navy's need for a class of stealthy frigates that were to be designed and built in India.^[14][15] The Directorate of Naval Design (DND)'s specifications for the project called for a class of "5000 ton stealth frigates (Project 17) incorporating advanced signature suppression and signature management features".^[16] The first three units were formally ordered by the Indian Navy in early 1999.^[17]

Shivalik's design embodies many firsts in Indian ships. Shivalik is the first Indian naval vessel to use a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system. The CODOG gearboxes were designed and built by Elecon Engineering.^[18]

The main features of the class are its stealth characteristics and land-attack capability. The ships incorporate structural, thermal and acoustic stealth features.^[19] The vessels use 10 gigabit LAN for their network.^[20]

There has also been an increased emphasis on crew comfort in this class of ships with more spacious accommodation being provided. Also, INS Shivalik is the first ship in the Indian Navy with chapati and dosa makers on board.^[21]

General characteristics and propulsion

The Shivalik-class frigates have a length of 142.5 m (468 ft) overall, a beam of 16.9 m (55 ft) and a draft of 4.5 m (15 ft). The ships displace about 4,900 tonnes (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons) at normal load and 6,200 tonnes (6,100 long tons; 6,800 short tons) at full load.^[4] The complement is about 257, including 35 officers.^[4]

They use two Pielstick 16 PA6 STC Diesel engines and two GE LM2500+ boost turbines in CODOG configuration providing a total of 47,370 shp (35,320 kW) of power. This allows the ships to reach a maximum speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph).^[2]

Electronics and sensors

The Shivalik-class frigates are equipped with a wide range of electronics and sensors. These include:

• 1 × MR-760 Fregat M2EM 3-D radar
• 4 × MR-90 Orekh radars
• 1 × ELTA EL/M-2238 STAR
• 2 × ELTA EL/M-2221 STGR
• 1 × BEL APARNA

In addition, the ships use HUMSA-NG (hull-mounted sonar array) and the BEL Ellora Electronic Warfare suite.^[7]

 

 

 

 

Weapons and sensors fitment on Shivalik-class.
(top) Fregat M2EM Radar, ELTA ELM-2238 Radar, BEL Aparna FCR, L&T RBU-6000 ASW rocket launcher.

Armament

The Shivalik-class frigates are equipped with a mix of Russian, Indian and Israeli weapon systems. These include the 76mm Otobreda naval gun, Klub and BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missiles, RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers and 6–324 mm ILAS 3 (2 triple)torpedoes. A 32 cell VLS launched Barak SAM and AK-630 act as Close-in weapon systems (CIWS). The ships also carry two HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B helicopters.^{[2][better source needed]}

Construction and service

All the three ships of the class were constructed at the Mazagon Dock Limited. The construction of the lead ship, Shivalik, commenced in December 2000. The ship's keel was laid in July 2001 and was launched in April 2003. It underwent sea trials in February 2009 before being commissioned in April 2010. The second ship, Satpura, was laid in October 2002. It was launched in June 2004 and commissioned in August 2011. The third and final ship, Sahyadri, was laid in September 2003, launched in May 2005 and commissioned in July 2012.^[2] All the three ships are named after hill ranges in India: Shivalik after the Sivalik Hills, Satpura after the Satpura range and Sahyadri after the Sahyadri range commonly called Western Ghats.^[2]

The lead ship of the class, INS Shivalik, was deployed in the North West Pacific for JIMEX 2012 (Japan-India Maritime Exercise) with four other ships which included INS Rana, a Rajput-class guided-missile destroyer, INS Shakti, a Deepak-class fleet tanker, and INS Karmuk, a Kora-class corvette, and took part in India's first bi-lateral maritime exercise with Japan. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) was represented by two destroyers, one maritime patrol aircraft and a helicopter.^[22] After the deployment in the north Pacific, the battle group was deployed in the South China Sea.^[23][24] As part of India's Look East policy, the ships visited the Shanghai port on 13 June 2012, for a five-day goodwill tour.^[25][26] INS Shakti served as the fuel and logistics tanker to the three destroyers. The ships left the port on 17 June 2012.^[27] Before leaving the port, the ships conducted a routine passage exercise with the People's Liberation Army Navy.^[28][29][30]

The second ship, INS Satpura, participated in the Malabar 2012 exercise with the United States Navy along with the Indian destroyers INS Ranvir, INS Ranvijay, corvette INS Kulish and replenishment oiler INS Shakti. The other ships which participated in the exercise included Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 of the US Navy, consisting of:^[31] USS Carl Vinson, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey. Military Sealift Command's fast combat support ship USNS Bridge also provided support for the exercise.^[32]

INS Shivalik participated in the PLAN's 65th anniversary celebrations held in Qingdao sailing 4,500 miles from Port Blair without any assistance from support ships. India, Indonesia and China conducted three high-level exercises including an anti-hijack exercise.^[33]

Ships

Name	Pennant	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Sea Trials	Commissioned	Home port	Status
Shivalik	F47	Mazagon Dock Limited	11 July 2001	18 April 2003	February 2009	29 April 2010^[34]	Visakhapatnam	Active
Satpura	F48		31 October 2002	4 June 2004^[5]	2010–2011	20 August 2011^[35]		Active
Sahyadri	F49		30 September 2003^[14]	27 May 2005	2011–2012	21 July 2012^[36]		Active

Gallery

Related Images

•  
  INS Sahyadri along with JMSDF JS Ōmi and a Kamorta-class corvette
•  
  INS Satpura (F48) steams with U.S. and Indian ships in formation during Malabar 2012.
•  
  INS Shakti (A57), INS Sahyadri (F49) and JMSDF JS Hyūga transit together.
•  
  INS Satpura arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific 2016.
•  
  INS Satpura as seen from USS Halsey
•  
  Shivalik undergoing replenishment from HMAS Stalwart during a Malabar exercise.

See also

• Ships of the Indian Navy
• List of naval ship classes in service
• Nilgiri-class frigate
• Indian Naval Air Arm
• INS Shivalik (F47)

References

1. "Shivalik Class Frigates".
2. "Shivalik Class Frigates". Naval Technology. 15 June 2011. from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
3. "India finalizing mega stealth frigates' project for over Rs 50,000 crore". 9 July 2012. from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
4. . Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
5. Cdr. A.K. Lambhate, "Stealth is Wealth" 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Sainik Samachar, Vol. 51, No. 14, 16–31 July 2004, Ministry of Defence (India).
6. Commodore Stephen Saunders, ed. (2016). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2016–2017 (119th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 348. ISBN 978-0710631855.
7. Waters, Conrad (2015). Seaforth World Naval Review 2013: pdf. Seaforth Publishing. p. 159. ISBN 9781473817999. from the original on 3 March 2018.
8. Monica Chadha, India trials stealth frigate 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 18 April 2003
9. "Riding the waves". Rediff.com. 10 May 2003. from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
10. "Indian Navy working on policy to allow women on-board warships". The Economic Times. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
11. "INS-Sahyadri plays mid-sea saviour to Aussie lady sailor". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
12. "Capital Cruisers" 21 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Sainik Samachar, Ministry of Defence (India), 15 March 2004. Adm. Madhvendra Singh, Chief of Naval Staff: "These would be the future ships of the Indian Navy and will be of the Shivalik class".
13. Salerno-Garthwaite, Andrew (31 August 2023). "India to launch Mahendragiri, the final Shivalik-class stealth warship". Naval Technology. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
14. 2003–04 Annual Report of the Ministry of Defence 17 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, India.
15. MoD – Report on Major Activities, 2002–05 29 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Defence (India).
16. The Corps of Naval Constructors – Building Self Reliance 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, MoD Samachar, Ministry of Defence (India), 1 December 2006.
17. "Project 17 (Shivalik) Class". Surface Fleet, Active Ships, Project 17 (Shivalik) Class. Bharat-rakshak.com. from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
18. Anandan, S.; Martin, K. A. (30 December 2011). "Navy floats out first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". The Hindu. Chennai, India. from the original on 4 January 2012.
19. "Warship Building Prowess", FORCE, January 2008, (forceindia.net 11 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine).
20. "CMC Uplifts Network Infrastructure for Indian Navy". Cxotoday.com. from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
21. . Calcutta: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
22. . IBN Live. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
23. "Warm reception to Indian naval ships in China". Zee News. 13 June 2012. from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
24. "Indian warships to dock at Chinese port". Zee News. 12 June 2012. from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
25. "How Indian Navy is expanding and modernising". NDTV. 25 June 2012. from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
26. "Indian warships to dock at Chinese port after 6 yrs gap". Hindustantimes.com. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
27. "Indian warships wrap up China visit". NDTV. 19 June 2012. from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
28. "Chinese Navy calls for trust building with India". The Hindu. 15 June 2012. from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
29. "Chinese Navy calls for trust building with India". THE WEEK IN REVIEW. IDSA. from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
30. Mohan, C Raja. "Analysis: Japanese Navy". Observer Research Foundation. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
31. . C7f.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
32. "Carl Vinson Sailors Make History During Exercise Malabar 2012". Public.navy.mil. 13 April 2012. from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
33. India, China agree to deepen naval ties after landmark exercise 26 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
34. "Why Shivalik-class frigates matter to India". News.rediff.com. 21 April 2010. from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
35. . The Times of India. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
36. "Stealth warship 'INS Sahyadri' commissioned". www.indiatvnews.com. 22 July 2012. from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shivalik class frigate.

• Novenco Pdf document 1 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
• Global Security – Shivalik Class Frigates
• Rediff – Why Shivalik-class frigates matter to India