INS Shivalik

INS Shivalik (F47) is the lead ship of the her class of multi-role frigates of the Indian Navy. Presently, undergoing sea trials, she is planned to be commissioned by November 2009

INS Shivalik under construction
Career	Indian Navy
Name:	INS Shivalik(F47)
Namesake:	Shivalik hills
Builder:	Mazagon Dock Limited
Laid down:	11 July 2001
Launched:	18 April 2003
Commissioned:	2009
Status:	Sea trials
General characteristics
Class and type:	Shivalik class frigate
Displacement:	4,600 tons
Length:	142 metres (470 ft)
Beam:	17 metres (56 ft)
Draught:	4.5 metres (15 ft)
Propulsion:	CODOG 2 x Pielstick diesel engines 2 GE LM-2500 gas turbines
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h)+
Complement:	257 (incl 35 officers)
Armament:	76mm SRGM 2 x AK-630 CIWS 24 x Shtil SAM 16 x Barak SAM 8 x VLS 3M-54E Klub or BrahMos cruise missiles 90R ASW missiles DTA-53-956 torpedoes RBU-6000 (RPK-8)
Aircraft carried:	2 x Sea King Mk.42B or HAL Dhruv

History

INS Shivalik is named for the Shivalik hills, a hill range in the Himalayas spanning 2500 km. The crest of the ship INS Shivalik depicts the Shivalik range and the Ramadao sword.
Shivalik is the first ship to use high-strength steel developed and produced in India.

Description

Like other vessels of her class, the Shivalik incorporates features to minimize radar cross-section, as well as to minimize infrared and acoustic emissions.
The nerve centre of the Shivalik’s battlefield capability is called the AISDN (ATN-based Integrated Services Digital Network) that enables electronic information from the Shivalik’s systems and sensors — engines, navigation devices, radars, weaponry, radio sets and control systems — to be transmitted digitally in real time to the command center. It also integrates information from external sources including UAVs and AWACS.
Captain uses a modern Computer Aided Action Information Organisation (CAIO), for real time battlefield awareness and available weapons systems. Information is transmitted directly to the commanding officer. CAIO also provides decision support in selecting the optimum weapons system for the threat detected.
Shivalik also hosts two Sea King helicopters on board for anti submarine warefare and transport.

Crew Comfort

INS Shivalik while under construction

INS Shivalik will have better living conditions for crew than existing Indian ships.
The living areas equipped with state of the art modular furnishings which are custom-designed Shivalik. Furnishings are Korean designed and manufactured in India by the marine division of Godrej. Shivalik is India’s first warship with a cabin especially built for two women officers located next to Captain's cabin. While similar in most respects to the men’s cabins, the significant difference is in having an attached bathroom and extra wardrobe space