Nilgiri-class frigate (2019)
The "Nilgiri"-class frigates, formally classified as the Project-17 Alpha frigates (P-17A), are a series of guided-missile frigates currently being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), for the Indian Navy. Design. Development. The frigates were designed by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) - an internal establishment within the Indian Navy responsible for designing warships; the organization is also distinguished for having contributed to the designing of numerous Indian warships, inculding INS "Vikrant" - India's first indigenously-designed aircraft carrier, the "Arihant"-class submarines - India's first indigenously-designed nuclear-powered ballistic  missile submarines and the "Shivalik"-class frigate - India's first indigenously-designed frigates equipped with stealth technology. The class' design was finalized by the DND in 2013; it was later unveiled to the public in April 2018 - when MDL displayed a scale model of the frigate at the "DEXEXPO 2018" defense exhibition, held at Chennai, India. The frigate's design incorporates a significant degree of stealth and low radar-observability - through the utility of composite materials, radar-absorbent coatings and low-observable/radar-transparent technologies; the usage of the aforementioned materials assists the vessel in maintaining a low radar cross-section  (RCS). Features. The vessel's physical profile also features a substantial level of stealth through the application of different physical forms - including an enclosed mooring deck, flush deck-mounted weapon systems and a reduced number of antennae. The frigate also maintains a low infrared signature - through the diluting of the hull's temperature emissions by the application of the Venturi effect, and a low acoustic signature - through the utility of non-cavitating propellers and specialized "acoustic enclosures" designed to reduce the acoustic emissions of the vessel's machinery. The P-17A frigates are the first major class of Indian-designed warships  to be built using the methodology of integrated modular construction - a manufacturing process in which multiple modules (or "blocks") of a vessel's hull are pre-assembled/pre-outfitted independently, before being aggregated for final assembly. In December 2015, MDL contracted Fincantieri S.p.A. to provide technical assistance and essential expertise in the construction of the seven frigates using the "modular construction" methodology. Comparison to the "Shivalik"-class frigates. The P-17A is a derivative of the "Shivalik"-class frigates (P-17) - a class of three, multi-mission frigates, which currently serve as the Indian Navy's mainstay frigates; both classes feature several differences , with regard to their respective designs :- Naming. The P-17A frigates were christened after the former-"Nilgiri"-class frigates, which served in the Indian Navy between 1972 and 2013; the first six ships of the series were allotted the names utilized by the older class, namely - "Nilgiri", "Himgiri", "Taragiri", "Udaygiri", "Dunagiri", and "Vindhyagiri". The seventh and final vessel of the P-17A series, which did not have a namesake from the older class, was given the new name of "Mahendragiri". As part of its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the class features eight BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles, capable of speeds of up to  Mach 3. The BrahMos is widely regarded as one of the most formidable anti-ship missiles currently in service, given the missile's extreme versatility and manoeuvrability. Instrumentation. Armament. The vessels are equipped with one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun. Originally, the Indian Navy had planned to install the Mk 45 127 mm naval gun, manufactured by BAE; however, this plan was later scrapped in 2021 on account of financial constraints. As part of its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the class features thirty-two Barak 8ER surface-to-air-missiles, with sixteen missiles present in four "2 x  4" VLS configurations - with two placed at the bow and two placed aft. The Barak 8ER, also classified as the LR-SAM, is an "extended-range" variant of the original Barak 8 - designed to neutralize various aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); the new variant is expected to feature a range of about . As part of its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the class features two triple-torpedo launchers for firing ASW torpedoes. The class also features two RBU-6000 (RPK-8) anti-submarine rocket launchers, capable of firing ASW  projectiles to depths of up to . During the class' unveiling in 2018, the frigate's design was noted to possess two anti-torpedo decoy systems and four decoy launchers - which presumably may be the NSTL Maareech torpedo-countermeasure system and the Kavach anti-missile decoy launchers, respectively. As part of its aviation facilities, the class is equipped with a flight-deck and an enclosed aviation hangar, capable of accommodating a single naval helicopter - most likely the ALH Dhruv MK-III maritime-reconnaissance helicopters, or the Westland Sea King Mk. 42B ASW/ASuW helicopters - both of which are operated by the  Indian Naval Air Arm. The class features the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar as its primary radar suite. The EL/M-2248 is a multi-function, phased-array radar system featuring an azimuth of 360, with the capability to track both aerial and surface targets - at a range of over . Sensors. The class also features the Indra LTR-25 'Lanza' surface-search radar - as its secondary radar suite. The LTR-25 is a solid-state, three-dimensional (3D), long-range radar capable of operating in a dense electronic environment and features a range of over , with the capability  to track various aerial targets - including fighter aircraft and ballistic missiles. The frigates are also equipped with an advanced combat management system - "CMS-17A", equipped with sophisticated data links for higher interoperability among other vessels. The class is equipped with the BEL HUMSA-NG sonar, developed by the DRDO. The HUMSA-NG is a hull mounted "active cum passive" integrated sonar system capable of detecting, localizing, classifying and tracking sub-surface targets in both active and passive modes. The frigates feature the "Shakti" electronic warfare (EW) suite - developed by the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), for defense against anti-ship missiles  and for the interception, detection, classification, identification and jamming of conventional radars. "Shakti" is equipped with wide-band electronic-support measures (ESM), electronic countermeasures (ECM), an integrated "Radar Finger Printing System (RFPS)" and a data-recording replay feature for "post-mission analysis". Propulsion. Each frigate features two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines - manufactured by GE Aviation and two MAN 12V28/33D STC four-stroke engines - manufactured by MAN Diesel & Turbo - in a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion configuration. In December 2016, the Indian Navy contracted GE Aviation to supply fourteen LM2500 gas turbines for the seven frigates - which were license -assembled in India by the Industrial & Marine Gas Turbine Division (IMGT) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Under the deal, HAL was additionally sanctioned to provide comprehensive services - including the supply of spare parts, maintenance inspections and equipment overhauls. At the time of the order, HAL had already delivered eleven LM2500 turbines to the Indian Navy; the turbines are specifically used on multiple Indian warships - most notably on the "Shivalik"-class frigates. In February 2019, MDL contracted GE to supply an assortment of auxiliary equipment to the Indian Navy to support the fourteen engines; under the agreement, GE also handled the design  work of the frigate's auxiliary system and its fuel supply system. In May 2016, the Indian Navy contracted MAN Diesel & Turbo to supply fourteen MAN 12V28/33D STC four-stroke engines for the seven frigates; under the deal, the requisite parts needed for the engines were sourced from India, while the engines' final assembly and testing were conducted at MAN's facility in Aurangabad, India. History. Background. In June 2009, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) - the main acquisition panel subordinate to India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), cleared a proposal for the procurement of seven stealth frigates at a cost  of ₹45,000 crore – classified as "Project 17A” - on the lines of the Indian Navy’s initiative of establishing a 160-ship fleet. In September 2012, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) - India’s top decision-making institution on matters related to defense and national security, green-lighted the proposal for the "development cum construction" of the seven frigates. Initially, the Indian Navy favoured a proposal of building the first two frigates at a foreign shipyard – seeking to minimize the project’s overall construction timeline; however, this suggestion was overruled by India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) – which favoured indigenous  production of the frigates. The seven frigates were envisioned as a “follow-on series” to the "Shivalik"-class frigates (Project 17), which were also being built for the Indian Navy at the time, but equipped with more sophisticated capabilities. The designing-process of the seven frigates was completed in mid-2013. The project – consisting of the construction of the seven designated frigates over a span of five years - was formally approved by the CCS in February 2015. Construction. The seven frigates are to be jointly constructed by two public-sector shipyards, namely – Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and  Engineers (GRSE) – with four of the frigates allotted to MDL and the remaining three allotted to GRSE. In February 2015, the Indian Navy contracted Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) – a Kolkata-based public-sector shipyard, to build three P-17A frigates at an estimated cost of ₹19,294 crore. According to the terms of the contract, GRSE is slated to deliver the three frigates in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. In preparation for the order, GRSE re-augmented its infrastructure by establishing newer “modular” shipyards along with a "Goliath" gantry crane – meant for enabling the “modular construction” of the frigates in  a short time frame. A significant proportion of the hull’s “blocks” needed for the vessel’s construction was procured from smaller shipyards and metal fabrication shops in and around Kolkata, while the construction/fabrication of additional infrastructure was done at GRSE’s Rajabagan shipyard. The construction of the first frigate began in November 2018, while work on the second and third frigates began in January 2020 and March 2021, respectively. The first of the three frigates, "Himgiri", was launched on 14 December 2020 – with its delivery slated for August 2023. In February 2015, the Indian Navy contracted Mazagon Dock  Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) – a Mumbai-based public-sector shipyard, to build four P-17A frigates at an estimated cost of over ₹21,000 crore. According to the terms of the contract, MDL is to deliver the four frigates in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. The four frigates were built at different locations, namely - at MDL's main shipbuilding facility in Mumbai, at MDL's subordinate facility in Nhava, at a smaller shipbuilding facility also operated by MDL in Mumbai, at an MSE shipyard in Gujarat and at another shipyard in Goa. Similarly to GRSE, MDL also upgraded its existing infrastructure ; the shipyard augmenting its existing facilities with newer equipment, including a "Goliath" gantry crane, a module workshop, a wet basin and a "cradle assembly" shop - meant to facilitate modular construction. The construction of the first frigate began in December 2017, while work on the second, third and fourth frigates began in May 2019, September 2020 and January 2020, respectively. The first of the four frigates, "Nilgiri", was launched on 28 September 2019 – with its delivery slated for August 2022. See also. Frigates of comparable configurations and capabilities Other references to the Indian Navy