INS Satpura (F48)

INS Satpura (F48) is a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate built for the Indian Navy. She was built at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) located in Mumbai. Construction of the vessel began in 2002 and was completed by 2010. She underwent sea trials from thereon before being commissioned on 20 August 2011 into the Eastern Naval Command headquartered at Vishakapatnam.

INS Satpura features improved stealth and land attacking features over the preceding Talwar-class frigates.

Design and description
The Indian Navy conceived Project 17 for design of stealthy frigates to be designed and built in India. The Directorate of Naval Design (DND)'s design of the Shivalik class called for "5000 ton stealth frigates (Project 17) incorporating advanced signature suppression and signature management features". The first three units were formally ordered by the Indian Navy in early 1999.

General characteristics and propulsion
INS Satpura has a length of 142.5 m overall, a beam of 16.9 m and a draft of 4.5 m. The ships displaces about 4900 t at normal load and 6200 t at full load. The complement is about 257, including 35 officers.

The ship uses two Pielstick 16 PA6 STC Diesel engines and two GE LM2500+ boost turbines in CODOG configuration providing a total of 47370 shp of power. This allows the ship to reach a maximum speed of 32 kn.

Electronics and sensors
INS Satpura is equipped with a wide range of electronics and sensors. These include In addition, it uses HUMSA (hull-mounted sonar array), ATAS/Thales Sintra towed array systems and the BEL Ajanta Electronic Warfare suite.
 * 1 × MR-760 Fregat M2EM 3-D radar
 * 4 × MR-90 Orekh radars
 * 1 × Elta EL/M-2238 STAR
 * 2 × Elta EL/M-2221 STGR
 * 1 ×BEL APARNA

Armament
INS Satpura is equipped with a mix of Russian, Indian and Western weapon systems. These include the 3.0-inch Otobreda naval gun, Klub and BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missiles, RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers and DTA-53-956 torpedo launchers. A 16 cell VLS launched Barak SAM and AK-630 act as Close-in weapon systems (CIWS). The ship also carries two HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B helicopters.

Construction and service
The keel of INS Satpura was laid in October 2002. She was formally launched in June 2004 and was commissioned on 20 August 2011 after undergoing extensive sea trials in 2010.

Operational history
INS Satpura participated in the Malabar 2012 exercise with the United States Navy along with destroyers INS Ranvir (D54), INS Ranvijay (D55), corvette INS Kulish (P63) and replenishment oiler INS Shakti (A57). The other ships which participated in the exercise included Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 of the US Navy, comprising USS Carl Vinson, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG-97). Military Sealift Command's fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10) also provided support for the exercise.