The Shivalik class frigates or Project 17 class frigates are multi-role frigates 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 frigates 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.
| Shivalik Class Frigate | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Shivalik class |
| Builders: | Mazagon Dock Limited, India |
| Operators: |  Indian Navy |
| Preceded by: | Talwar class frigate |
| Succeeded by: | Project 17A class frigate |
| Cost: |  2,600 crore (US$579.8 million) |
| Building: | 1 |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Guided-missile frigate |
| Displacement: | 5600 tons standard 6200 tons full load |
| Length: | 142.5 m (468 ft) |
| Beam: | 16.9 m (55 ft) |
| Draught: | 4.5 m (15 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Pielstick 16 PA6 STC Diesel engines & 2 x GE LM2500+ boost turbines in CODOG configuration. |
| Speed: | 32 knots (59 km/h) 22 knots (41 km/h) (Diesel Engines) |
| Complement: | 257 (35 officers) |
| Sensors and processing systems: | 1 x MR-760 Fregat M2EM 3-D radar 4 x MR-90 Orekh radar 1 x ELTA EL/M 2238 STAR 2 x ELTA EL/M 2221 STGR 1 x BEL APARNA HUMSA (Hull Mounted Sonar Array) ATAS/Thales Sintra towed array systems |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | BEL Ajanta electronic warfare suite |
| Armament: | OTO Melara 76mm SRGM 2 x AK-630 30mm guns 32 x Barak SAM 9M317 (SA-N-12) SAM,total of 24 missiles 8 x Klub cruise Missiles 90R missiles (ASW) DTA-53-956 torpedoes Klub ASW Missile 2x RBU-6000 (RPK-8) |
| Aircraft carried: | 2 x HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk.42B |
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.
