INS Shivalik (F47)

History

INS Shivalik (F47) represents the indigenous guided missile frigate (2013) currently in service with the Indian Navy. The vessel was ordered in 1999 and laid on 11 July 2001 by shipyard Mazagon Dock Limited. She was subsequently launched on 18 April 2003 and commissioned as INS Shivalik (F47) on 29 April 2010 after completing the necessary sea trials. The Shvalik, although largely engineered, is an advanced, state-of-the-art warship that has served in the Indian Navy's ranks in a number of ways. As such, she is equipped with a range of electronic kits and appropriate weapons to deal with most available threats.

Frigates are generally considered to have great speed and maneuverability, allowing ships to compete in a variety of roles, so Shivalik doesn't disappoint.

INS Shivalik is the battleship of her trio Shivalik class. The class, which includes the INS Satpura (F48) and Sahyadri (F49), was born out of an Indian Navy initiative in the late 1990s to build a modern 5,000-ton guided missile frigate using stealth capabilities. Upon completion, INS Shivalik provided the Indian Navy with a number of "firsts" - the first "stealth-aware" warship, and the first to use CODOG (combined diesel or gas) propulsion.

Although native architecture, it has a system of Italian, Russian, Israeli and American origin.

The vessel is equipped with an array of advanced processing and sensor systems, spearheaded by the Fregat M2EM MR-760 series 3D radar. With four MR-90 Orekh radar kits, Elta from Israel has the EL/M-2238 3D-STAR ("Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar") air/ground search radar and the EL/M-2221 STGR system.

Using a bow mounted sonar array (HUMSA) to track underwater threats, Thales provides a towed array. BEL Ajanta has deployed Shivalik's Electronic Warfare (EW) suite.

As a multi-role warship, the INS Shivalik is equipped with a range of different weapon options to deal with air, surface and underwater threats. There is an Italian 3-inch OTO Breda automatic cannon used as a dual-purpose deck gun, while the guided-missile frigate's primary armament is an 8-cell "Klub" Vertical Launch System (VLS) rocket pod.

The Klub anti-ship system includes cruise missiles. Originating in Russia, the 3M-54 Klub is a proven weapon system on Russian Navy ships and submarines.

The Klub missile unit can be replaced with the "Brahmos" missile type, a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by Russia (NPO Mashinostroeyenia) and India (DRDO). Torpedoes are fired from 2 x DTA-53-056 torpedo launchers.

Anti-submarine weapons include 2 x RBU-6000 (RPK-8) anti-submarine missile launchers (of Russian origin). It can carry up to 24 x medium-range Shtil-1 missiles, based on the Buk air defense series For point Shivalik equipped with the Israeli short-range Barak surface-to-air missile (SAM) close-in weapons system (CIWS) and 2 x AK-630 ( Russia) CIWS and turrets.

Structurally, the INS Shivalik has a displacement of 6,800 tons, a barrel length of 468 feet, a beam of 55 feet, and a draft of 15 feet. There are 257 employees, including 35 officers. The first floor was relatively unobstructed, and the deck guns came before all other structures.

Vertical Launch Missile (VLS) units are located aft of the deck guns, while the bridge is mounted forward of the superstructure. The mast is mounted amidships in the usual way and the funnel is located amidships aft. Another mast can be seen behind the chimney.

The hangar completes the superstructure with a helicopter flight deck attached to the stern. The rear of the INS Shivalik can launch and recover medium naval helicopters - transport or anti-submarine warfare (ASW) types or similar. Usually these are Westland "Neptune" types, although HAL Dhruvs have been identified recently.

INS Shivalik can support two such helicopters.

As mentioned earlier, INS Shivalik relies on "CODOG" (combined diesel or gas) propulsion, using 2 Pielstick 16 PA6 STC diesel engines (rated at 15,200 hp) and 2 GE LM2500+ gas coupled turbines (output 33,600 hp). The CODOG arrangement combines the performance of both engine types through the use of reduction gears and a series of clutches, while driving the twin propeller shafts more efficiently. Diesel engines can be used for easy travel, while gas turbines can be used for high-speed bursts.

So this gives the Shivalik a top speed of 32 knots on the full diesel and 22 knots on the pure diesel.

In keeping with modern ship development, INS Shivalik has carefully incorporated a "stealth" feature into its design. The handrail span is intentionally limited, and all major side profile panels along the superstructure are well integrated into the hull sides.

The mast is a closed pyramid and the chimney is a low closed protrusion.

INS Shivalik participated in "JIMEX 2012" (Japan-India Maritime Exercise), in which a small number of Indian Navy ships worked alongside a small number of Japanese ships (no doubt to counter future Chinese aggression). Includes a visit to INS Shivalik in Tokyo. In June 2012, she docked in Shanghai for a small exercise with the Chinese navy in the South China Sea.

After some good stops in Southeast Asia, INS Shivalik is back in Indian waters.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing