Indian Navy to commission INS Satpura on Aug 20

Strengthening its strike capabilities, the Indian Navy will commission its second indigenously-built stealth warship INS Satpura on August 20 in Mumbai.The second of the three-ship Project-17 Shivalik Class frigates built by the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks (MDL) would be commissioned by Defence Minister A K Antony there, Navy officials said here.

The first ship of the Class INS Shivalik was commissioned on April 29 last year and launched India into the league of countries with the capability of building stealth frigates."Conceived and designed by the Indian Naval design team, the Satpura will be the mainstay frigates of the force for the first half of the 21st century," they said.The next warship of the class INS Sahyadri is also expected to be inducted into the Navy in next six to eight months around the time when the INS Teg, a Talwar Class follow on ship under construction in Russia.

The 142.5-metre-long warship, with 6,200-tonne displacement, has "versatile control systems with signature management and radar cross-section reduction features." Ready for induction six to seven months behind schedule, the Satpura 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 Navy currently has a 130-warship-strong fleet which includes an aircraft carrier, 20 landing ships, eight destroyers, 12 frigates and 16 attack submarines.The ship is powered by one each of US-origin LM-2500 gas turbine engine and SEMT Pielstick diesel engine on each shaft driving a large diameter controllable pitch propeller.PTI AJD

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