Shivalik class frigate
Encyclopedia
The Shivalik class frigates or Project 17 class frigates are multi-role frigate
s with stealth
features being built for the Indian Navy
. They are the first warships being built in India
with such features. The lead vessel
of the class was commissioned on April 29, 2010.
The Shivalik class will be the main frigate
s of the Indian Navy
in the first half of the 21st century. 2 ships of the class are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited. A total of 10 further ships are planned to be built in several batches.
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.
Basic design of Project 76 was done by the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design (DND), with a detailed designed developed by MDL. The DND's design of the Shivalik class called for a "5000 ton stealth frigates (Project 17) incorporating advanced signature suppression and signature management features".
The Indian Navy
formally ordered the first three units in early 1999.
Production commenced about two years later. Delays resulted from design inputs from the Naval Design Bureau (NDB) for the weapons suite, specification changes to the hull steel and delays in delivery of high-strength D-40S steel from Russia
. To overcome the lack of steel supply, DRDO and Steel Authority of India Limited
(SAIL) indigenously designed and developed the AB-grade steel required.
Construction of the first P17 frigate commenced with plate cutting on 18 December 2000. The keel was laid on 11 July 2001 and the ship was launched on 18 April 2003. The other two units will then be delivered at regular intervals and subsequent units - twelve planned in all - will be built in progressively modified batches. The vessel is to be built through modular-construction in 172 modules.
INS Shivalik
, was launched on 18 April 2003, and commissioned on 29 April 2010. It was delayed by a couple of months due to political issues raised by the Obama administration over the matter of American
-built engines being used on board.
INS Satpura
was launched on 4 June 2004, and commissioned into service on 20 August 2011.
One more ship, INS Sahyadri
, is also under construction at Mazagon dock. These are expected to be finished and delivered by 2011.
The stealth frigates are designed to avoid detection by enemy radar through the principle of reducing the ship's radar signature. The ships are fitted with a mix of Indian, Russian and Western weaponry systems along with both air defence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. They also carry two advanced helicopters. The total length of the ships are 142.5 meters while its breadth is 16.90 meters. The total displacement of the ships are 4900 tons. They are powered by gas and diesel turbines. These warships are capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The main features of the class are its stealth characteristics and the land-attack capability. The ships incorporate structural, thermal and acoustic stealth features. They will be armed with the Klub
anti-ship and BrahMos
supersonic cruise missiles. The vessels use 10 gigabit LAN for their network.
Fire Control Systems (FCS) developed by DRDO and built by BEL
will be used on the Shivalik class frigates.
Shivalik design embodies many firsts in IN ships. Shivalik is the first IN ship to have a Combined Diesel or Gas Turbine (CODOG) propulsion plant. She has an ATM based Integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN) which serves as the foundation for the external and internal communication systems. The new Total Atmosphere Control System (TACS) for the ship’s air-conditioning and ventilation are different from earlier designs in terms of design concepts.
There has also been an increased emphasis on crew comfort in this class of ships with more spacious accommodation being provided for the crew. Also, the INS Shivalik is the first ship in the Indian Navy with a chapati-maker and a dosa-maker on board.
The living areas equipped with state-of-the-art modular furnishings which are custom-designed Shivalik. Furnishings are Korean designed and manufactured in India by the marine division of Godrej. Shivalik is India’s first warship with a cabin especially built for two women officers located next to Captain's cabin. While similar in most respects to the men’s cabins, the significant difference is in having an attached bathroom and extra wardrobe space.
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s with stealth
Stealth ship
A stealth ship is a ship which employs stealth technology construction techniques in an effort to ensure that it is harder to detect by one or more of radar, visual, sonar, and infrared methods...
features being built for the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
. They are the first warships being built in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with such features. The lead vessel
INS Shivalik
INS Shivalik is the lead ship of her class of multi-role frigates of the Indian Navy. She was commissioned on 29th April 2010. -History:INS Shivalik is named for the Shivalik hills, a hill range in the Himalayas spanning 2500 km...
of the class was commissioned on April 29, 2010.
The Shivalik class will be the main frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s of the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
in the first half of the 21st century. 2 ships of the class are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited. A total of 10 further ships are planned to be built in several batches.
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.
Development history
The Indian Navy conceived Project 17 for design of stealthy frigates to be designed and built in India. Three ships were approved by the government in 1997, followed by a Letter of Intent (LoI) to the ship's builders, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in February 1998.Basic design of Project 76 was done by the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design (DND), with a detailed designed developed by MDL. The DND's design of the Shivalik class called for a "5000 ton stealth frigates (Project 17) incorporating advanced signature suppression and signature management features".
The Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
formally ordered the first three units in early 1999.
Production commenced about two years later. Delays resulted from design inputs from the Naval Design Bureau (NDB) for the weapons suite, specification changes to the hull steel and delays in delivery of high-strength D-40S steel from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. To overcome the lack of steel supply, DRDO and Steel Authority of India Limited
Steel Authority of India Limited
Steel Authority of India Limited from 116950 The company's current chairman is C.S Verma. With an annual production of 13.5 million metric tons, SAIL is the 14th largest steel producer in the world....
(SAIL) indigenously designed and developed the AB-grade steel required.
Construction of the first P17 frigate commenced with plate cutting on 18 December 2000. The keel was laid on 11 July 2001 and the ship was launched on 18 April 2003. The other two units will then be delivered at regular intervals and subsequent units - twelve planned in all - will be built in progressively modified batches. The vessel is to be built through modular-construction in 172 modules.
Status
INS Shivalik
INS Shivalik is the lead ship of her class of multi-role frigates of the Indian Navy. She was commissioned on 29th April 2010. -History:INS Shivalik is named for the Shivalik hills, a hill range in the Himalayas spanning 2500 km...
, was launched on 18 April 2003, and commissioned on 29 April 2010. It was delayed by a couple of months due to political issues raised by the Obama administration over the matter of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-built engines being used on board.
INS Satpura
INS Satpura
INS Satpura is a Shivalik class frigate of the Indian Navy, built at Mazagon Dock Limited. Ship was handed over to the Indian navy on 9th July 2011 and it was commissioned on 20th August 2011.-History:...
was launched on 4 June 2004, and commissioned into service on 20 August 2011.
One more ship, INS Sahyadri
INS Sahyadri
INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik class frigate of the Indian Navy, currently under construction at Mazagon Dock Limited.-History:The keel for INS Sahyadri was laid on March 17, 2003. She was launched on May 27, 2005.-References:...
, is also under construction at Mazagon dock. These are expected to be finished and delivered by 2011.
Design
The P17 was conceived entirely by the indian naval architects at DND circa 1994. The P17 predates that of the Talwar Class frigates by some years. The weapons integration on the P-17 was assisted by Russia's Severnoye Project Design Bureau.The stealth frigates are designed to avoid detection by enemy radar through the principle of reducing the ship's radar signature. The ships are fitted with a mix of Indian, Russian and Western weaponry systems along with both air defence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. They also carry two advanced helicopters. The total length of the ships are 142.5 meters while its breadth is 16.90 meters. The total displacement of the ships are 4900 tons. They are powered by gas and diesel turbines. These warships are capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The main features of the class are its stealth characteristics and the land-attack capability. The ships incorporate structural, thermal and acoustic stealth features. They will be armed with the Klub
3M-54 Klub
The Russian 3M-54 Klub is a multi-role missile system developed by the Novator Design Bureau. Its NATO reporting name is SS-N-27. Both submarine and surface ship launched versions exist. The system is designed to accept various warheads, allowing its use against surface and subsurface naval...
anti-ship and BrahMos
BrahMos
BrahMos is a stealth supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between Republic of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed BrahMos Aerospace...
supersonic cruise missiles. The vessels use 10 gigabit LAN for their network.
Fire Control Systems (FCS) developed by DRDO and built by BEL
Bharat Electronics Limited
Bharat Electronics Limited is a state-owned electronics company with about nine factories, and few regional offices in India. It is owned by the Indian Government & primarily manufactures advanced electronic products for the Indian Armed Forces.BEL is one of the eight PSUs under Ministry of...
will be used on the Shivalik class frigates.
Shivalik design embodies many firsts in IN ships. Shivalik is the first IN ship to have a Combined Diesel or Gas Turbine (CODOG) propulsion plant. She has an ATM based Integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN) which serves as the foundation for the external and internal communication systems. The new Total Atmosphere Control System (TACS) for the ship’s air-conditioning and ventilation are different from earlier designs in terms of design concepts.
There has also been an increased emphasis on crew comfort in this class of ships with more spacious accommodation being provided for the crew. Also, the INS Shivalik is the first ship in the Indian Navy with a chapati-maker and a dosa-maker on board.
The living areas equipped with state-of-the-art modular furnishings which are custom-designed Shivalik. Furnishings are Korean designed and manufactured in India by the marine division of Godrej. Shivalik is India’s first warship with a cabin especially built for two women officers located next to Captain's cabin. While similar in most respects to the men’s cabins, the significant difference is in having an attached bathroom and extra wardrobe space.
Ships
| Name | Pennant | Laid down | Launched | Sea trials | Commissioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INS Shivalik INS Shivalik INS Shivalik is the lead ship of her class of multi-role frigates of the Indian Navy. She was commissioned on 29th April 2010. -History:INS Shivalik is named for the Shivalik hills, a hill range in the Himalayas spanning 2500 km... |
F47 | 11 July 2001 | 18 April 2003 | February 2009 | 29 April 2010 |
| INS Satpura INS Satpura INS Satpura is a Shivalik class frigate of the Indian Navy, built at Mazagon Dock Limited. Ship was handed over to the Indian navy on 9th July 2011 and it was commissioned on 20th August 2011.-History:... |
F48 | 31 October 2002 | 4 June 2004 | 2010-2011 | 20 August 2011 |
| INS Sahyadri INS Sahyadri INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik class frigate of the Indian Navy, currently under construction at Mazagon Dock Limited.-History:The keel for INS Sahyadri was laid on March 17, 2003. She was launched on May 27, 2005.-References:... |
F49 | 30 September 2003 | 27 May 2005 | 2010 | December 2011 |
