Navy gets a boost with INS Satpura stealth warship

The second of the three-ship Project-17 Shivalik Class frigate, INS Satpura was commissioned by Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma.

Defence Minister AK Antony was scheduled to commission the ship but could not do so as he is indisposed, the Navy chief said.

Built by the state-owned Mazagon Dockyards Limited, INS Satpura is a 143-metre-long warship with 6,200-tonne displacement.

The lead ship of this category, INS Shivalik, was commissioned into the Navy in April last year.

Shivalik class warships can deal with multiple threat environment and are fitted with weapon suite comprising both area and point defence systems.

It has sensors for air, surface and sub-surface surveillance, electronic support and counter equipment and decoys for soft kill measures.

The third Shivalik class vessel, INS Sahyadri, is expected to be ready for commissioning by next year.

Being inducted six to seven months behind schedule, the warship is equipped with a mix of imported and indigenous weapon systems and sensors, including Barak surface-to-air missiles, 'Shtil' air defence system, rapid fire guns and basic anti-submarine warfare weapons.

The ship is powered by one each of US-origin LM-2500 gas turbine engine and SEMT Pielstick diesel engine.