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Christened INS Shivalik, the multi-role stealth
frigate has been built at Mumbai’s public sector
shipyard Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL) under Project
17. Two more such vessels- INS Satpura and NS
Sahyadiri are under construction at the shipyard.
The frigate was inducted by Defence Minister A
K Antony on April 29.
It is the newest and the stealthiest ships of
the Indian Navy and has been provided with structural,
thermal and acoustic stealth features to augment
ts potent capability.
“Shivalik appears small compared to its size
on radar screen and she will paint smaller than
many of the smaller vessels on the screen,” Project-17
chief Rear Admiral K N Vaidyanathan told India
Strategic.
The frigate has sloped hangar and sloped exposed
surfaces for scattering radar beam, radar signature
suppression screens, vertical launch missile system
and stealth version of the medium-range gun to
reduce the signature of the platform.
“We have radar absorbent paint and materials.
We have used educator diffuser service to submerge
all the hot spots with the environment. To control
the underwater noise we have low noise propeller.
“With this signature management we have reduced
detection and lock on ranges for hostile ship,”
Adm Vaidyanathan added.
Before induction Shivalik was put through harbour
and sea trials, a rigorous process to ascertain
that all its systems, weapons and sensors are
working flawlessly. “She stood like a rock and
performed better than our expectations,” he observed.
 A
stealth warship is designed to have low signatures
so that they remain undetected to enemy electronic
sensors of other navies. Its shape is designed
to evade detection by radar; it is engineered
to give off minimal infra-red (IR) emissions;
and every piece of equipment on board, from engines
to toilet flushes, are designed to work silently
so that the ship cannot be heard by the enemy’s
sonar and acoustic sensors. This stealth will
allow INS Shivalik to reach near enemy positions
undetected and inflict maximum damage.
Shivalik is equipped with stateof- the-art defence
against nuclear, biological and chemical attacks.
“The Atmospheric Control System filters and controls
the temperature and humidity of the air coming
into the ship at all times, including the air
being used by the engines. It removes any radioactive,
chemical or biological impurities, thereby protecting
the crew and the systems even during a nuclear,
biological or chemical attack,” Indian Navy spokesperson
Commander PVS Satish said.
Conceived and designed by the Indian Navy design
bureau, the ship will also have indigenous sensors
and weapons.
“The sensors and weapons of the ship are controlled
through a Combat Management System designed and
developed by an Indian Navy establishment and
manufactured by Bharat Electronics,’’ said Cdr
Satish.
The Shivalik class vessels will be the mainstay
frigates of the Indian Navy in the first half
of the 21st century. Their sophisticated weaponry
includes the Russian Klub surfaceto- surface missiles
and the Shtil and Israeli Barak air defence missiles.
The ships also have the indigenous Kavach chaff-dispensing
system to counter incoming missiles, as also indigenous
sonars and antisubmarine warfare systems.
The ship’s domestic requirements of fresh water
will be met through two reverse osmosis plants,
while a fully automated galley will enable the
crew to be fed Indian, Continental and Asian gourmet
meals, including freshly baked bread and home-made
ice-cream.
The accommodation arrangements for the 35 officers
and over 250 crew members have been provided by
Indian conglomerate Godrej and meet the laid down
criteria for crew comfort and space management.
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