SilasCorrie at 13:21, 12 February 2026

2026-02-12T13:21:52Z

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{{Short description|Class of frigates in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2008}}

{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = INS Godavari (F20) during Malabar 2008.jpg
| image_caption = INS ''Godavari''
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview
| name = ''Godavari'' class
| builders = [[Mazagon Dock Limited]]
| operators = {{navy|India}}
| class_before = {{sclass|Nilgiri|frigate|4||1972}}
| class_after = {{sclass|Brahmaputra|frigate|4}}
| subclasses =
| built_range = 1978 – 1988
| in_commission_range = 1983 – 2022
| total_ships_building =
| total_ships_planned = 3
| total_ships_completed = 3
| total_ships_canceled =
| total_ships_active =
| total_ships_laid_up =
| total_ships_lost =
| total_ships_retired = 3<ref name="swansong"/><ref name="pride_Gomati">{{cite news |last=Sharda |first=Shailvee |date=13 May 2022 |title=Indian Navy's pride INS Gomati to make final base in Lucknow |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/indian-navys-pride-ins-gomati-to-make-final-base-in-lucknow/articleshow/91528374.cms |work=The Times of India |location= |access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>
| total_ships_preserved =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption =
| type = [[Guided-missile frigate]]
| displacement = *3,600 tonnes (standard)
*3,850 tonnes (full load)
| length = {{convert|126.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| beam = {{convert|14.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| draught = {{convert|4.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| draft =
| propulsion = *2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers {{convert|38.7|kg/cm2|psi|abbr=on}}
*2 × steam turbines {{Convert|30000|hp|kW|-2|abbr=on}}
*2 shafts<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| speed = {{convert|28|kn|km/h}}<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| range = {{convert|4500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn|km/h}}<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| complement = 313 (incl. 40 officers, 13 air crew)<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| sensors = *''Radar''
*Signaal LW08 D-band air search radar
*MR-310U Angara (NATO:Head Net C) E/F-band 3D air/surface radar
*2 × Signaal ZW06 or Don Kay I-band navigation radars
*MR-103 GFCS Fire Control radar
*EL/M-2221 STGR Fire control radar (Barak SAM) (replaced MPZ-310 radar (SA-N-4 SAM))
*''Sonar''
*[[Bharat Electronics|BEL]] HUMSA (Hull Mounted Sonar Array)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advanced Active cum Passive Integrated Sonar System |url=https://bel-india.in/product/advanced-active-cum-passive-integrated-sonar-system-humsa-ng/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=BEL |language=en-US |archive-date=23 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823141506/https://bel-india.in/product/advanced-active-cum-passive-integrated-sonar-system-humsa-ng/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| EW = *Selenia INS-3 (Bharat Ajanta and Elettronica TQN-2) used for ESM/ECM
*''Decoys''
*2 × chaff/flare launchers
*1 × Graesby G738 towed torpedo decoy
| armament = *4 × [[P-15 Termit|SS-N-2D Styx AShM]]
*24 × [[Barak 1]] SAM (3 × 8 cell VLS units) (replaced SA-N-4 SAM)
*1 × [[OTO Melara 76 mm]] gun (replaced [[AK-725]] twin-barreled 57 mm gun)
*4 × [[AK-630]] 30 mm CIWS
*2 × triple {{convert|324|mm|in|abbr=on}} tubes (Whitehead A 244S or Indian NST 58 torpedoes)
| armor =
| aircraft = 2 × [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]], [[HAL Dhruv]] or [[HAL Chetak]] helicopters
| aircraft_facilities =
| notes =
}}
}}
The '''''Godavari''-class frigates''' (formerly '''Type 16''' or '''Project 16''' frigates) were [[guided-missile frigate]]s of the [[Indian Navy]]. The ''Godavari'' class was the first significant indigenous warship design and development initiative of the Indian Navy. Its design is a modification of the {{sclass|Nilgiri|frigate|4||1972}} with a focus on indigenous content of 72%, a larger hull and updated armaments. The class and the lead ship, {{INS|Godavari|F20|6}} were named after the [[Godavari River]]. Subsequent ships in the class, {{INS|Ganga|F22|6}} and {{INS|Gomati|F21|6}} also took their names from [[Indian rivers]].

INS ''Gomati'' was the first Indian Navy vessel to have digital electronics in her combat data system. The ships combined Indian, Russian and Western weapons systems.<ref name=BR-Godavari>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/178-Godavari-Class.html |title=Godavari (Type 16) Class |work=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=26 September 2014 |archive-date=8 December 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208131156/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/178-Godavari-Class.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
The concept for the ''Godavari'' class originated from the lessons learnt in the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]]. There was a need for a ship unique to Indian requirements, for deploying a hybrid of indigenously-designed, as well as Russian and European weapons systems. The keel of the lead ship INS ''Godavari'' was laid in 1978 at [[Mazagon Dock Limited]] in [[Bombay]]. She was commissioned in December 1983.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

One of the requirements was to deploy two [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]] helicopters from the ship. The ''Nilgiri''-class vessels were too small for this requirement. The final design incorporated a larger hull in order to accommodate this.<ref name=GS-P16>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/f-godavari.htm |title=F 20 Godavari Class |publisher=globalsecurity.org |date=9 July 2011 |access-date=26 September 2014}}</ref> INS ''Godavari'' was decommissioned on 23 December 2015, and her [[Barak 1]] surface-to-air missile will be installed on the [[flagship]] {{INS|Vikramaditya}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/vikramaditya-to-be-fitted-with-barak-missiles/68184.html |title=Vikramaditya to be fitted with Barak missiles |publisher=www.tribuneindia.com/ |date=21 Apr 2015 |access-date=16 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/INS-Godavari-sets-sail-into-the-sunset-after-3-decades/articleshow/50259958.cms |title=INS Godavari sets sail into the sunset after three decades |publisher=Times of India |date=21 December 2015 |access-date=22 December 2015}}</ref> INS ''Ganga'' was retired from active service on 28 May 2017,<ref name="swansong">{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/613543/ins-ganga-swansong-sortie.html |title=INS Ganga on swansong sortie |publisher=Deccan Herald |date=25 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> and was decommissioned on 22 March 2018.<ref name="Business Standard India">{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/navy-warship-ins-ganga-decommissioned-in-mumbai-118032201452_1.html|title=Navy warship INS Ganga decommissioned in Mumbai|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2018-03-22|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-03-23}}</ref> The last ship of its class, INS ''Gomati'', was decommissioned on 15 May 2022 after 34 years of service.<ref name="pride_Gomati"/>

==Design==
Although the Directorate of Marine Engineering suggested replacing steam propulsion with gas turbines, it was decided not to do so, since [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]] and [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] had made heavy investments in facilities and tooling for design of steam turbines and auxiliary systems.<ref name=GS-P16/>

For armaments, the missile and gun package of the Soviet {{sclass2|Nanuchka|corvette}} was installed on the frigate. Later on, when the frigates underwent their mid-life overhauls, some of the Soviet systems were replaced by Israeli and Italian systems.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

== Ships of the class ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Name
!Pennant
!Builder
!Laid down
!Launched
!Commissioned
!Decommissioned
!Fate
|-
| {{INS|Godavari|F20|2}}
| F20
| rowspan=3|[[Mazagon Dock Limited]]
| 3 November 1978<ref name="jni-23dec15">{{cite web|last1=Rahmat|first1=Ridzwan|title=India decommissions first Godavari-class frigate|url=http://www.janes.com/article/56850/india-decommissions-first-godavari-class-frigate|work=IHS Jane's Navy International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307233537/http://www.janes.com/article/56850/india-decommissions-first-godavari-class-frigate|archive-date=7 March 2016|date=23 December 2015}}</ref>
| 15 May 1980
| 10 December 1983<ref name="jfs-0506">{{cite book|editor1-last=Saunders|editor1-first=Stephen|editor1-mask=Commodore Stephen Saunders|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006|date=2005|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon|isbn=0710626924|page=315|edition=108th|chapter=India}}</ref>
| 23 December 2015
| Sunk as target, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/watch-in-exercise-navy-ship-fires-missile-sinks-decommissioned-godavari-frigate-2314481|title=In Naval Exercises At Arabian Sea, Missile Sinks Old Ship|date=23 October 2020|access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://inshorts.com/en/news/indian-navy-sinks-old-ship-with-missile-during-exercise-at-arabian-sea-1603436906753|title=Indian Navy sinks old ship with missile during exercise at Arabian Sea|date=23 October 2020|access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1319480490676482048?utm_campaign=fullarticle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=inshorts|title=The anti-ship missile (AShM) launched by Indian Navy Missile Corvette #INSPrabal, homes on with deadly accuracy at max range, sinking target ship: Indian Navy|date=23 October 2020|access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref>

|-
| {{INS|Ganga|F22|2}}
| F22
| 1980
| 21 October 1981
| 30 December 1985<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| 22 March 2018<ref name="Business Standard India"/>
| Awaiting disposal
|-
| {{INS|Gomati|F21|2}}
| F21
| 1981
| 19 March 1984
| 16 April 1988<ref name="jfs-0506"/>
| 28 May 2022
| To be preserved as museum.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=13 May 2022 |title=Navy Shaurya Smarak to be set up in Lucknow |url=https://www.uniindia.com/story/Navy-Shaurya-Smarak-to-be-set-up-in-Lucknow |work=UNI |location= |access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Upgrades==
All three ships later underwent an extensive upgrade of weapons and sensors. These include the fitment of the Israeli Barak SAM system with a new fire control system based on the EL/M-2221 STGR in place of the original Soviet SA-N-4 SAM system. The P-20 missiles were retained. The Soviet [[AK-725]] main gun was also replaced by an Italian [[OTO Melara 76 mm]] gun.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:INS Godavari (F20)+INS Brahmaputra (F31)+INS Beas (F39).jpg|INS ''Godavari'' with {{INS|Brahmaputra|1994|6}} and {{INS|Beas|F37|6}} trailing during exercises with the US Navy.
File:INS Ganga (F22).jpg|[[INS Ganga (F22)]] during sea operations.
File:INS Gomati with Seaking heli operations.jpg|INS Gomati with Seaking helicopter operations.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of naval ship classes in service]]

'''Equivalent frigates of the same era'''
* {{sclass|Adelaide|frigate|4}}
* {{sclass|Jacob van Heemskerck|frigate|4}}
* {{sclass|Santa María|frigate|4}}
* {{sclass|Cassard|frigate|4}}
* {{sclass|Cheng Kung|frigate|4}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Godavari class frigate}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}
{{Frigates_of_the_Indian_Navy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Godavari Class Frigate}}
[[Category:Godavari-class frigates| ]]
[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:Ships built in India]]

Godavari-class frigate - Revision history

SilasCorrie at 13:21, 12 February 2026