The Shivalik-class, designated Project 17, is a class of three multi-role guided-missile frigates that hold the distinction of being the first Indian-built warships designed from the outset with integrated stealth features. Commissioned between 2010 and 2012, the class served as the direct design precursor to the later Project 17A Nilgiri-class frigates, embedding many of the technologies and lessons that would inform the Indian Navy’s subsequent frigate generation.[1]
Designed as an improvement over the preceding Talwar-class frigates, with which India had gained experience of Russian weapons and systems, the Shivalik-class was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Construction of the three ships spanned from 2000 to 2010, with all three vessels, INS Shivalik (F47), INS Satpura (F48), and INS Sahyadri (F49), in commission by 2012.[2]
The Shivalik-class was the first Indian naval vessel class to incorporate structural, thermal, and acoustic stealth features as an integrated design philosophy rather than an afterthought, including angled hull and superstructure surfaces to reduce radar cross-section, infrared-signature suppression measures, and reduced underwater-radiated noise to lower the ships’ detectability to enemy sensors and submarines. The class was also the first Indian warship to use a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, combining diesel engines for cruising efficiency with gas turbines for high-speed sprints.
Each Shivalik-class frigate displaces approximately 6,115 tonnes fully loaded and measures around 143 metres (468 feet) in length, with a beam of about 16.8 metres (55 feet) and a draught of roughly 4.5 metres (15 feet). The ships have a maximum speed exceeding 30 knots under gas-turbine power and carry a complement of around 257 personnel, including 35 officers.[3]
Anti-ship strike capability is provided by an eight-cell vertical launch system forward of the bridge, capable of firing either Russian 3M-54 Klub (SS-N-27) anti-ship cruise missiles or the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, depending on fit. Air defence is layered across two systems: 32 short-range Israeli Barak-1 surface-to-air missiles in vertical launch cells aft of the funnel, and a single rail-launched Shtil-1 medium-range SAM system carrying 24 missiles forward of the anti-ship missile battery. Gun armament comprises a single 76mm dual-purpose gun forward and two six-barrelled AK-630 30mm close-in weapon systems for point defence against missiles and aircraft.[4]
The class carries a comprehensive multi-function radar, sonar, and electronic warfare suite integrated through a combat management system, along with hangar and flight deck facilities to embark two multi-role helicopters for extended anti-submarine and surveillance operations, a capability that significantly extends the frigates’ effective sensor and weapons reach beyond visual and radar range.
As India’s first purpose-built stealth frigate class, the Shivalik-class proved critical design, construction, and systems-integration concepts that were carried forward directly into the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A), making it a foundational programme in the Indian Navy’s transition toward fully indigenous, stealth-optimised surface combatant design. All three ships remain active fleet units, providing multi-role escort, anti-submarine, and surface-strike capability alongside the Navy’s newer destroyer and frigate classes.
| Type | Multi-Role Stealth Guided-Missile Frigate (Project 17) |
| Builder | Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai |
| Displacement | ~6,115 tonnes (full load) |
| Length | ~143 metres |
| Key Weapons | 8 x Klub/BrahMos (VLS); 32 x Barak-1; Shtil-1 SAM (24 missiles); 76mm gun; 2 x AK-630 CIWS |
| Ships in Class | INS Shivalik (2010), INS Satpura (2011), INS Sahyadri (2012) |
| Propulsion | CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) |