Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) After importing the first three stealth frigates from Russia and with another three on order, the Indian Navy is likely to acquire 10 such indigenously-built vessels in the next 10 years, an officer said Wednesday.
The first indigenously-built stealth ship, INS Shivalik, will be commissioned April 29. The ship was built at Mumbai’s Mazagaon Docks Limited under Project 17. Two more such vessels are under construction and are likely to be commissioned in the next one year.

The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art technology and bristles with a sophisticated system of radars and weaponry. Its armaments include the Klub surface-to-surface missiles and the Shtil and Barak air defence missiles, rocket launchers and indigenously designed sonar systems meant for detecting and attacking submarines.

“Shivalik is equipped with a judicious mix of Russian, Western and indigenous weapons and sensors. The indigenous effort accounts for over 60 percent of the ship’s cost,” Rear Admiral K.N. Vaidyanathan, director general (Naval Design), told reporters here.

“Besides design and construction, which is totally indigenous, the ship incorporates technologiclly advanced indigenous systems such as the integrated versatile console system, ship-wide data network and the jointly developed (with Russia) combat management system,” he added.

According to naval officers, the Shivalik class vessels will be the mainstay frigates of the Indian Navy in the first half of the 21st century.

The ships also have the indigenous Kavach chaff-dispensing system to counter incoming missiles, as also indigenous sonars and anti-submarine warfare systems.

Vaidyanathan said the design is in an advanced stage of Project 17A vessels, a follow on of the Shivalik class frigates with advanced weapons and sensors suites and improved stealth features.

“Acceptance of necessity (AON) has been accorded in June 2009 for building seven ships of this class,” he added.

The Indian Navy operates three stealth frigates bought from Russia. Three more are being built in Russia and likely to be commissioned in by next year. With the completion of Project 17 A, the Indian Navy will have 16 stealth frigates in its fleet.