Feature 3 | DESTROYERS, FRIGATES & CORVETTES
P-17 stealth frigates herald step change for Indian Navy
Te Indian Navy’s Project 17 (P-17) Shivalik class stealth frigates “herald a paradigm shiſt” in the design of future surface combatants for the Indian Navy, according to Rear Admiral K N Vaidyanathan, who heads the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND).
T
he Admiral was referring to design aspects of the new frigates that include low observability (stealth)
features, enhanced seakeeping, integrated combat systems, enhanced shipboard automation and enhanced habitability, which he said would serve as key design drivers for future surface combatants going forward. Operationally, the frigates are a
generation ahead of the Russian-built Pr.1135.6 Talwar class stealth frigates, and open up new tactical exploitation possibilities for the Indian Navy. Even though the ships appear similar to
the Pr.1135.6 Talwar frigates, the design of the P-17 is entirely Indian. In fact, it pre-dates the Talwar’s design, which was developed by Russia’s Severnoye Design Bureau (SDB) using DND input for optimising the radar cross section (RCS) and thus the shape of the superstructure as well as weapons layout. The SDB and DND have a close
relationship since SDB has been a consultant design partner for integrating Russian weapons systems on all Indian warships projects, beginning with the Project 16 frigate programme.
Project development The project was conceived in the early 1990s. Key Naval Staff Requirements (NSR) included low signatures; an ability to operate weapons and embarked helicopters in Sea State 6; automation and enhanced survivability features; and last but not the least, much improved habitability. Te frigate was initially named Frigate
2000, then Frigate 2001 and finally Project 17. Concept studies commenced in 1993 and various concept designs were presented to the naval headquarters in 1994 and approval obtained shortly thereaſter.
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Although long-delayed, the P-17 class frigate is a major advance for the Indian Navy. Te basic design of the ship – that is
to say, the hullform, structure, internal arrangements, stealth, propulsion, weapons and overall configuration – commenced in 1994. Model testing and other design studies (RCS, IR, etc), wind tunnel tests and hydrodynamic testing were all completed by 1997. A Letter of Intent was issued to
Mazagon Docks Ltd (MDL) for three P-17 vessels in 1998, although production would not begin until December 2000, mostly due to sourcing and pricing issues with the Russian-origin D40S steel. On top of this, there were further delays due to a change in the choice of the close-in weapon system from the Russian Kashtan to the proven combination of the Israeli Barak-1 point-defence missile system and 30mm AK-630M Gatling guns. In addition, developing a local supplier that could produce shipboard
base equipment such as radar absorbent
material, paints, radar opaque optically transparent windows, guardrails made of radar transparent material and the radar signature-suppression side screens to stringent ‘stealth’ quality requirements was a much greater challenge than anticipated. More recently, a slip up by General Electric with ITAR paperwork led to a delay of several months in commissioning the gas turbines until the appropriate clearances could be obtained from the US State Department. Nevertheless, six years aſter launching,
the lead ship, Yard Number 12617, was finally commissioned in April 2010 as INS Shivalik. In spite of the delays the Indian Navy appears to be very satisfied with these ships. Two follow-on ships are slated for commissioning this year. The frigates, which displace around
6100tonnes fully loaded, have a length of 143m, a beam of 16.9m and a draſt of 5.1m. Teir complement is 225 +25 officers, plus
Warship Technology May 2011
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