The Shivalik class frigates or Project 17 class frigates are multi-role & Guided-missile frigate
with stealth features being built for the Indian Navy.
Cost: 2,600 crore (US$518.7 million)
Planned: 3+2(2nd batch)
Completed: 3
Active: 3
Displacement 4600 tons, Full - 5000+ tons , Full: 6,200 tones(rumor)
Length 143 m
Beam 17 m
Draft 4.5 m
Moulded Depth 9.2 m
Speed 30 knots for GT operations
22 knots cruising speed on diesels.
Crew 35 Officers
222 Enlisted
Propulsion: 2 x Pielstick 16 PA6 STC Diesel engines & 2 x GE LM2500+ boost turbines in CODOG configuration.
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
Guns:
1× 3.0 inch Otobreda, naval gun
Anti-ship missiles:
8× VLS launched Klub, anti-ship cruise missiles
or 8× VLS launched BrahMos, anti-ship cruise missiles
Anti-submarine warfare:
2× 2 DTA-53-956 torpedo launchers, 2× RBU-6000 (RPK-8)rocket launchers
Anti-air missiles:
Shtil-1 missile system, with 24 short to medium range (30km) missiles
Close In Weapon Systems (CIWS):Barak SAM-launcher CIWS, 2× AK-630CIWS
Aircraft carried: 2x HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk.42B helicopters.
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 first three units were formally ordered by the Indian Navy 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.
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 frigates feature 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 represent a major advance from the systems used on previous Indian naval vessels.
Shivalik is India’s first warship with a separate cabin for women officers. While similar in most respects to the men’s cabins, the significant difference is in having an attached bathroom and extra wardrobe space.
The Shivalik Class ships have many more signature reducing features than other Indian Navy ships. They do not, however, possess extreme stealthy or low observable features like the Swedish Visby or the French Lafayette. The Shivalik Class ships will have a lower infra-red signature due to Infra-Red Supression System (IRSS) design tools and training provided by Canada's Davis Engineering.
The Canadian IRSS is the most effective IR signature reduction device in service today. An Italian Radar Cross Section (RCS) prediction software may also have been used for this design. All machinery will be mounted on noise and vibration-proof mounts to reduce acoustic and vibration signatures.
The Project 17A is the follow on the Project 17 (Shivalik class) frigates for the Indian Navy. A total of seven ships will be built. The ships will be built at Mazagon Dock Limited and at GRSE.
Name: Project 17A Builders: GRSE
Mazagon Dock Limited Operators: Indian Navy Preceded by: P-17 Shivalik class Cost: Rs. 4000 crore each
US $900 million each Planned: 7
The anticipated cost for each vessel is above Rs 4,000 crore (approximately US $900 million) and the total deal is expected to be worth more than Rs 45,000 crore (US $10+ billion). The vessel will incorporate the latest indigenous developed stealth features.
Lockheed Martin and Hyundai Heavy Industries have jointly responded to the Project 17A combat systems Request for Information (RFI) issued by Indian Navy. They are offering the Aegis Combat System to be included in its Project 17A frigate proposal.
The P17A frigates will be improve upon the P17 Shivalik class frigates in terms of stealth. It will have covered mooring deck and flush deck mounted (VLM) weapon systems. The number of antennae on the ship will be reduced by using a multifunctional radar. The P17A will also feature better options for roll stabilization. Build times will be cut down and productivity improved through the use of modular integrated construction.