INS Shivalik

INS Shivalik (F47) is the lead ship of her class of stealth multi-role frigates built for the Indian Navy. She is the first stealth warship built by India.[5] She was built at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) located in Mumbai. Construction of the vessel began in 2001 and was completed by 2009. She underwent sea trials from thereon before being commissioned on 29 April 2010.[6][7]

INS Shivalik (F47) during joint operations with United States Navy.
History
India
Name: Shivalik
Namesake: Shivalik Hills
Ordered: 1999
Builder: Mazagon Dock Limited
Laid down: 11 July 2001
Launched: 18 April 2003
Commissioned: 29 April 2010
Identification: F47
Status: in active service
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Shivalik-class guided-missile frigate
Displacement:
  • 6,200 t (6,100 long tons; 6,800 short tons) full load[1]
  • 5,300 t (5,200 long tons; 5,800 short tons) standard[1]
Length: 142.5 m (468 ft)[2]
Beam: 16.9 m (55 ft)
Draught: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 × propeller shafts
Speed:
  • 32 kn (59 km/h; 37 mph) (gas turbines)[3]
  • 22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) (diesel engines)
Complement: 257 (35 officers)
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 (hull-mounted sonar array)
  • ATAS/Thales Sintra towed array systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 BEL Ajanta electronic warfare suite
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2 × HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B helicopters.

Shivalik features improved stealth and land attacking features over the preceding Talwar-class frigates. She is also the first Indian navy ship to use the CODOG (COmbined Diesel Or Gas) propulsion system.[8]

Design and description

The Shivalik-class frigates were conceived as part of the Indian Navy's Project 17, which set down the requirements for a class of stealthy frigates to be designed and built in India.[9][10] The Directorate of Naval Design (DND)'s design specifications for the Shivalik class called for "5000 ton stealth frigates (Project 17) incorporating advanced signature suppression and signature management features".[11] The first three units were formally ordered by the Indian Navy in early 1999.[12]

General characteristics and propulsion

INS Shivalik has 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 displaces about 5,300 t (5,200 long tons; 5,800 short tons) at standard load and 6,200 tonnes (6,100 long tons; 6,800 short tons) at full load. The complement is about 257, including 37 officers.[1]

The ship uses two 7,600 shp (5,700 kW) Pielstick 16 PA6 STC diesel engines, for cruising, or two 16,800 shp (12,500 kW) GE LM2500+ gas turbines, for high speed bursts, in CODOG configuration. The diesels allow the ship to reach a maximum speed of 22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) while the gas turbines allow of a maximum speed of 32 kn (59 km/h; 37 mph).[8]

Electronics and sensors

INS Shivalik is 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, it uses HUMSA (hull-mounted sonar array), ATAS/Thales Sintra towed array systems and the BEL Ajanta Electronic Warfare suite.[8]

Armament

INS Shivalik is equipped with a mix of Russian, Indian and Western weapon systems. These include the 76 mm (3 in) Otobreda naval gun, Klub and BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missiles, RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers and DTA-53-956 torpedo launchers. A 32 cell VLS launched Barak SAM and AK-630 act as Close-in weapon systems(CIWS). The ship also carries two HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B helicopters.[8]

Construction and service
INS Shivalik during construction.

The construction of INS Shivalik began in 2000. Her keel was laid in July 2001. She was launched in June 2004 and was originally planned for commission by 2005[3] However, she was commissioned in April 2010.

Operational history

In 2012, INS Shivalik was deployed in the North West Pacific for JIMEX 2012 (Japan-India Maritime Exercise) with a four-ship group 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.[13]

The four ships entered Tokyo on 5 June 2012 after visiting Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and Republic of Korea. They stayed in Tokyo for three days. This visit coincided with commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, also visited Tokyo to witness the first JIMEX.[14][15][16]

After the deployment in the north Pacific, the battle group was deployed in the South China Sea.[17][18] As part of India's Look East policy, the ships visited the Shanghai port on 13 June 2012, for a five-day goodwill tour.[15][19] INS Shakti served as the fuel and logistics tanker to the three destroyers. The ships left the port on 17 June 2012.[20] Before leaving the port, the ships conducted a routine passage exercise with the People's Liberation Army Navy.[21][22][23]

After the visits to Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, South Korea and China, the ships visited Port Klang, Malaysia. This was the battle group's last port call during its two-month-long deployment, which had started in May 2012. After this she returned to the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy and since has been docked there.[14][24][25]

INS Shivalik participated in the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) 65th anniversary celebrations held in Qingdao. India, Indonesia and China conducted three high level exercises including anti-hijack exercise. PLAN official who visited the ship mentioned that "The Indian ship is a very strong ship with powerful weapons," and "This gives us a good opportunity to see the Indian Navy". INS Shivalik sailed 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) from Port Blair to Qingdao, without being assisted by any support vessel and without official from headquarters, showcasing the confidence of the crew and the autonomy they enjoy. PLAN and Indian Navy decided to further deepen the Naval bond between the two nations.[26]

In July 2014, this indigenous stealth frigate actively participated in INDRA War Games, a naval and army counter-terrorism exercise, with Russia. There Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay and fleet tanker INS Shakti were also part of Indian fleet accompanying her.

References
  1. "Shivalik class". Indiannavy.nic.in. 25 October 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  2. Cdr. A.K. Lambhate, "Stealth is Wealth" Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Sainik Samachar, Vol. 51, No. 14, 16–31 July 2004, Ministry of Defence (India).
  3. Monica Chadha, India trials stealth frigate Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 18 April 2003
  4. Operational range; 0.5–12 km (0.3–7.5 mi); Maximum speed Mach 2.1 (720 m/s (1,600 mph)
  5. "Riding the waves". Rediff.com. 10 May 2003. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  6. India commissions its first stealth warship, joins elite club Archived 16 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Why Shivalik-class frigates matter to India Archived 14 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Shivalik Class Frigates". Naval Technology. 15 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. 2003-04 Annual Report of the Ministry of Defence Archived 17 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, India.
  10. MoD – Report on Major Activities, 2002–05 Archived 29 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Defence (India).
  11. The Corps of Naval Constructors – Building Self Reliance Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, MoD Samachar, Ministry of Defence (India), 1 December 2006.
  12. "Project 17 (Shivalik) Class". Surface Fleet, Active Ships, Project 17 (Shivalik) Class. Bharat-rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  13. "India, Japan to hold first naval exercise from today". IBN Live. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  14. "First bilateral maritime exercise between India and Japan" (PDF). Indian Navy Press Release. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  15. "How Indian Navy is expanding and modernising". NDTV. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  16. "Japanese warships call at Kochi". The Hindu. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  17. "Warm reception to Indian naval ships in China". Zee News. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  18. "Indian warships to dock at Chinese port". Zee News. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  19. Indian warships to dock at Chinese port after 6 yrs gap
  20. "Indian warships wrap up China visit". NDTV. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  21. "Chinese Navy calls for trust building with India". The Hindu. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  22. "Chinese Navy calls for trust building with India". The Week in Review. IDSA. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  23. Mohan, C Raja. "Analysis: Japanese Navy". Observer Research Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  24. "Indian warships on goodwill tour, dock in Malaysia". NDTV. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  25. "Indian navy ships on 4-day visit". New Straits Times. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  26. India, China agree to deepen naval ties after landmark exercise Archived 26 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
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