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INS Himgiri (2020)
Indian stealth guided-missile frigate From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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INS Himgiri is the second ship of the Nilgiri-class stealth guided missile frigates being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers for the Indian Navy.[14]
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INS HIMGIRI
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INS Himgiri is the latest, niche and futuristic warship of the Indian Navy. The ship is part of the indigenous Project-17 Alpha (P-17A) class stealth guided missile frigates, and is being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
The frigates have been designed by the Warship Design Bureau (formerly Directorate of Naval Design) – an internal establishment within the Indian Navy responsible for designing warships. These ships are based on the Shivalik-class frigates (P-17) in terms of propulsion and hull structure, but in terms of capabilities, this class will be bringing with it increased firepower and lethality, improved design portfolios, such as low radar cross-section (RCS) and reduced infrared signature. Altogether, these will result in a multi-role, future ready and capable platform to address the entire ambit of modern ship borne operations. The class' design was finalised by the Directorate of Naval Design in 2013 and was later unveiled to the public at the DefExpo in Apr 2018 held at Chennai, India.
GRSE, formerly the Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers, has the distinction of being the ship builder who gave India her maiden completely indigenous warship, INS Ajay (delivered to the Navy in 21 September 1960). GRSE has amalgamated the foolproof and future ready design provided by the Warship Design Bureau, along with its vast experience of building frontline surface combatants, to create the cutting edge, combat ready and futuristic warship, INS Himgiri.
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About the Ship
In the Navy, it is believed that ships don’t die and as they get decommissioned, the spirit, legacy and the name carries on to newer platforms being commissioned. The original Leander class of the IN, were the epitome of shipbuilding prowess in India by being the first class of indigenous warships constructed and operated to their full glory. Similarly P17A frigates are named after the Leander class frigates of 1970s and will act as the mainstay of the future ready, credible and cohesive Navy.
The name Himgiri (meaning: ‘Him’ - Snow and ‘Giri’ - Mountains) is derived from the highest and the mightiest mountain ranges in the world, also known as the Great Himalayas or Himadris. These comprise the northernmost and highest mountain peaks of the Himalayas. This range is the longest and most continuous mountain range in the world stretching over 2300 Km and featuring the tallest peaks in the world. The name signifies the lofty reach along with the sound foundations of the mountain ranges which is synonymous with the character of the warship.
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The Himgiri of Yore
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The Ship is the embodiment of the old INS Himgiri (F 34), a Leander class frigate commissioned on 23 Nov 1974. The class was a testament to the shipbuilding prowess of the Indian Navy as the first class of warships to be indigenously built by India. The warship completed 31 years of glorious service before getting decommissioned on 06 May 05.
The warship was part of the 17th Frigate Squadron of the Indian Navy and was assigned to the Western Naval Command. She had the distinction of holding the record for the highest number of days at sea for a conventional warship of the Indian Navy in those days, symbolizing a shift from a Brown Water Navy to a Blue Water Navy. She also had her name etched in the annals of history in 1976 for being the first warship of the Indian Navy to have shot down a pilotless aircraft using onboard guns.
As part of her glorious service, the old Himgiri took part in important deployments such as the salvage operation of INS Godavari (1976), an overseas deployment named Paschim to the Gulf of Aden, Mediterranean and Black Sea and trials of the Indigenous Panoramic Sonar (APSOH). She was the proud flag ship of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) during CNX 79 (1979) and was later the Flag Ship during Exercise South Paw in 1983. She was actively involved in operations during Op Cactus in Male during Nov-Dec 1988. The ship had been instrumental in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Op Sahayata for relief to earthquake victims in Kutch, amongst other important missions.
The crest of Himgiri features the Mountain Goat alongside high peaks covered with snow and the water symbolising the oceans. The Mountain Goat known to be the epitome of focus and dedication signifies resolute determination due to its ability to scale the highest of peaks relentlessly. It is undeterred by even the steepest of slopes as it carefully and precisely chooses its footing, a step at a time, to finally surmount every peak to reach its goal.
Features
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The frigate's design incorporates up to 75% indigenisation, one of the highest level achieved by an Indian shipyard for a warship, thus spearheading the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in Defence and the Indian Navy in particular. It includes a significant degree of stealth and low radar-observability – through the utility of radar-absorbent coatings and low-observable/ radar-transparent technologies; the usage of which assists in maintaining a low radar cross-section (RCS). The vessel's physical profile also features a substantial level of stealth through the application of different physical forms, an enclosed mooring deck, flush deck-mounted weapon systems and a reduced number of antennae to significantly reduce the RCS and radar signature.
The frigate's infrared signature, most specifically emissions from its propulsion exhaust and power generation machinery, are also drastically reduced through the application of Venturi effect through the Infrared Signature Suppression System (IRSS) and fluid injection (seawater based), which helps to reduce the plume and hot metal temperatures of exhaust. These features help in significantly reducing the detection of the frigate from enemy aircraft looking out on both Radar and Electro Optical/ Infra-Red (EO/IR) as well as from heat seeking missiles.
To maintain acoustic silence from enemy submarines, the frigate is equipped with propellers designed to delay onset of cavitation to higher speeds, thus reducing hydrodynamic noise.
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Armament
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Anti-Surface Warfare
As part of its anti-surface warfare capabilities, Himgiri has eight VLS-launched BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles. The BrahMos is capable of speeds of up to Mach 3 and is widely regarded as one of the most formidable anti-ship missiles in the world, given the missile's supersonic speed, extreme versatility and manoeuvrability. The BrahMos makes the platform extremely potent against both marine targets as well as providing capability for land attack.
The ship is one of the first warships to sport the Upgraded OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount naval gun for anti-missile/anti-aircraft and anti-surface roles. The upgraded guns manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) features the Strales system with DART guided ammunition firing capability. This upgrade provides the ship with the unprecedented capability of guiding rounds post firing, to enable higher accuracy thus ensuring more ordnance on target.
Anti-Air Warfare
As part of its anti-air warfare (AAW) and Anti-missile defence (AMD) capabilities, the frigate features thirty-two MR-SAM surface-to-air missiles. The MR-SAM is an extended-range variant of the original Barak 8 and is designed to neutralize various aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) up to a range of 70 Km.
Anti-submarine Warfare
As part of its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the ship is armed with two triple-tube lightweight torpedo launchers for firing A244S torpedoes. The ship also features two Indigenous Rocket Launchers (IRL) which fires anti-submarine rockets against submarines.
Aviation Facilities
The ship is equipped with a flight-deck and an enclosed aviation hangar, capable of accommodating all the helicopters operated by the IN – from the latest MH 60 Romeo ASW helicopter, the versatile ALH Dhruv MK-III maritime reconnaissance helicopter, or the Westland Sea King Mk. 42B ASW/Anti Surface Warfare helicopters or the all-weather Chetak. Himgiri is capable of operating the MH 60R which is the best ASW helicopter in the world, significantly enhancing the ranges at which the ship can carry out accurate surveillance as well as precise engagements of underwater threats like submarines and mines. The Sea King 42B is being fitted with the indigenous Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range (NASM-SR), an air launched anti-ship cruise missile which would see an unprecedented increase in strike ranges of the ship. The various Multi Role helicopters, such as the Chetak and the ALH Mk-III provide various capabilities such as SAR at sea, Personnel Transfer and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) to name a few.
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Sensors
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Radars
The ship features the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar as its primary radar suite. The Multi-Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MFSTAR) is an active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar system with the capability to track both aerial and surface targets upto a range of over 400 km (215 Nm). The ship also features the INDRA LTR-25 'LANZA' air-search radar, known as 3D Air Surveillance Radar (ASR), as its secondary radar suite. The 3D ASR is a solid-state, three-dimensional (3D), long-range radar capable of operating in a dense electronic environment and features a range of over 460 km (250 Nm), with the capability to track various aerial targets – including fighter aircraft and ballistic missiles. Himgiri is also equipped with an advanced combat management system, classified as "CMS-17A", which is equipped with sophisticated data links for high, efficient interoperability with other naval vessels.
A combination of the above mentioned sensor suite along with upgraded IFF Mk XII and Naval ADS-B allows the ship to have increased Situational Awareness and good Air Situation Picture. The MRSAM-MFSTAR complex also allows the ship to maintain an exhaustive air situation picture and carry out coordinated engagements with similar ships. The frigate is also the ideal platform for controlling own aircraft including fighters like the MiG-29K for carrying out both Within Visual Range (WVR) and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements of hostile air targets under cover of ship borne radars, thus increasing ranges at which these aircraft can safely operate.
Sonar
The ship 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. She is also slated to receive the MAREECH Anti Torpedo Defence System (ATDS) which shall increase the underwater surveillance capabilities of the ship due to presence of a towed sonar as well as decoys for evading torpedoes fired at her.
Electronic Warfare
The modern war is fought on the Electromagnetic (EM) wave spectrum. The frigate features the Shakti electronic warfare (EW) suite – developed by the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), for the interception, detection, classification, identification and jamming of conventional radars and other airborne threats such as aircraft and missiles. Shakti is equipped with a wide-band electronic support (ES), jammers for electronic attack (EA), an integrated Radar Finger Printing System (RFPS) and a data-recording replay feature for "post-mission analysis".
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Propulsion
The 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, arranged in a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion configuration. She is capable of speeds of over 30 Kn on Gas Turbines and is capable of cruising for long ranges with the use of her Diesel Engines enabling versatility of operations. Its total power generation capability is of 4 MW with four in number 1MW capacity MTU Rolls Royce Diesel Alternators.
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Summary
The frigate is ideally placed to act as a Command and Control platform due to the plethora of modern sensors and communication systems present onboard. The seamless communication between the sensors and the Combat Management System (CMS) allows maintenance of both ‘Local Operational Picture’ as well as wider ranged ‘Geographical Operational Picture’. The excellent air picture capable of being maintained by the onboard sensors, enables the ship to have overall eyes in the sky over the entire fleet. The ship is capable of Fleet Air Defence and is therefore highly suited to escort and be part of defensive formations around High Value Units such as Aircraft Carrier, Fleet Support Ships etc.
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See also
References
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