Janamkatha at 17:10, 5 May 2026

2026-05-05T17:10:31Z

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{{Short description|Brahmaputra class frigate}}
{{other ships|INS Brahmaputra }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}{{italic title|string=Brahmaputra}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = INS Brahmaputra-1.jpg
| image_caption = INS ''Brahmaputra'' departing [[Portsmouth Naval Base]], UK, 20 June 2009
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
| hide_header =
| country = India
| flag = {{shipboxflag|India|naval}}
| name = INS ''Brahmaputra''
| namesake = [[River Brahmaputra]]
| ordered =
| awarded =
| builder = [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers]]
| original_cost =
| yard_number =
| way_number =
| laid_down =
| launched = 29 January 1994<ref>{{csr|register=MSI|id=6128610|shipname=Brahmaputra|accessdate=27 October 2019}}</ref>
| sponsor =
| christened =
| completed =
| acquired =
| commissioned = 14 April 2000
| recommissioned =
| decommissioned =
| maiden_voyage =
| in_service =
| out_of_service =
| renamed =
| reclassified =
| refit =
| struck =
| reinstated =
| homeport =
| identification = F31
| motto =
| nickname = ''The Raging Rhino''
| honours =
| captured =
| fate =
| status = Temporarily inactive, sustained severe damage in major fire
| notes =
| badge =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption =
| class = {{sclass|Brahmaputra|frigate|0}} [[guided missile frigate]]
| displacement = 3,850 tons
| length = {{convert|126.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| beam = {{convert|14.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height =
| draught =
| draft =
| power =
| propulsion = 2 steam turbines, {{convert|22,370|kW|shp|abbr=on}}, 2 shafts
| speed = {{convert|30|kn}}+
| range = {{convert|4500|nmi}}
| endurance =
| complement = 440 to 450 (Including 40 officers + 13 aircrew)
| time_to_activate =
| sensors = *Radar
*[[Bharat Electronics Limited|BEL]] RAWS-03 air/surface search radar
*BEL/Signaal RAWL-02 (PLN 517) air search radar
*Decca Bridgemaster/BEL Rashmi PIN 524 navigation radar
*Sonar
*BEL HUMSA (Hull Mounted Sonar Array)
*[[Thales Group|Thales]] Sintra towed array sonar
*Fire control
*BEL Aparna radar (Kh-35 SSM)
*[[Elta Systems|Elta]] EL/M-2221 radar (Barak SAM)
*BEL Shikari opto-electronic trackers (guns)
| EW = *BEL Ajanta Mk.2C Electronic Warfare system
*ELLORA Electronic Support Measures system
*BEL Radar Warning Receiver Suite
*Countermeasures
*2 × chaff/flare launcher
*Super Barricade chaff launcher
*2 × Graesby G738 or BEL TOTED towed torpedo decoy
| armament = *16 × [[Kh-35]] (SS-N-25) [[Surface-to-surface missile|SSM]] (4 x quadruple KT-184 launchers)
*24 × [[Barak SAM|Barak]] [[Surface-to-Air Missile|SAM]] (3 x octuple [[vertical launch system|VLS]] units)
*1 × [[Oto Melara 76 mm|OTO Melara 76 mm]] gun
*4 × [[AK-630]] 6-barreled 30 mm gatling gun
*2 × [[RBU-6000]] 213 mm anti-submarine rocket launcher
*2 × triple ILAS 3 324 mm torpedo tubes (Whitehead A244S anti-submarine torpedoes)
| armour =
| armor =
| aircraft = 1 [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]]
| aircraft_facilities =
| notes =
}}
}}

'''INS ''Brahmaputra'' (F31)''' is the lead ship of [[Brahmaputra-class frigate|her class]] of [[guided missile frigate]]s of the [[Indian Navy]]. She was built at the [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers]] (GRSE), [[Kolkata]].

On 21 July 2024, the ship listed on one side during maintenance in [[Naval Dockyard (Mumbai)|Mumbai dockyard]] after a major fire onboard. The Navy had immediately initiated an investigation for the incident.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=2024-07-22 |title=INS Brahmaputra Severely Damaged In Fire, Lying On Its Side; Sailor Missing |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ins-brahmaputra-severely-damaged-in-fire-lying-on-its-side-sailor-missing-6163214 |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref> As of May 2025, the ship is being repaired and is expected to regain its seaworthiness by early 2026 and will be combat-ready by mid-2026.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Rahul |date=2025-05-25 |title=Written off by many after accident, INS Brahmaputra set to sail again. |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/written-off-by-many-after-accident-ins-brahmaputra-set-to-sail-again-101748111983445.html?utm_source=ht_site_copyURL&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ht_site |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

==Design and Construction==
The design and construction of the ship is entirely Indian, and is a modification of the {{sclass|Godavari|frigate|4}} of frigates.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Brahmaputra.html
|date=2007-05-05
|title=Type 16A Brahmaputra class
|access-date=2008-01-28
|publisher=Bharat rakshak page on Brahmaputra class frigate
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211202145/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Brahmaputra.html
|archive-date=11 December 2007
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref> It is fitted with an array of modern sensor suites and matching weapon systems. INS Brahmaputra was commissioned on 14 April 2000 by Captain Pradeep 'Billoo' Chauhan, VSM.

This 3,600-tonne ship is {{convert|125|m|ft|0}} long and can reach speeds of up to {{convert|30|kn}}. She operates the [[Westland Sea King]] helicopter and the MATCH (Multi-Role Anti-Submarine Torpedo Carrying Helicopter) helicopter, which is an [[anti-submarine warfare]] variant of the [[HAL Chetak|Chetak]] helicopter. ''Brahmaputra'' is the second ship of the Indian Navy named for the [[River Brahmaputra]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.indembassyathens.gr/Defence/NOTE_INDIAN%20NAVAL%20SHIPS.htm|date = 2006-07-13|title = Indian naval ships visit to Greece|access-date = 2006-07-27|publisher = Embassy Of India, Athens|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070311232808/http://www.indembassyathens.gr/Defence/NOTE_INDIAN%20NAVAL%20SHIPS.htm|archive-date = 11 March 2007|url-status = dead}}</ref> The [[INS Brahmaputra (1957)|first vessel of the name]] was a Type 41 {{sclass|Leopard|frigate|2}} that was commissioned in 1958. The symbol of ''Brahmaputra'' is 'The Raging Rhino', for the [[Indian Rhinoceros|one-horned rhino]] native to the Brahmaputra valley.

==Operations==
===Operation Sukoon===
In July 2006,''INS Brahmaputra'', under the command of [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] Kapil Gupta, was a part of Task Force 54 on its return to [[India]] from the [[Mediterranean]], when it was turned back to assist in [[Operation Sukoon]]. The task force consisted of three warships and a fleet tanker which were returning from a goodwill visit and were just about to cross the [[Suez Canal]]. After the evacuation, the task force remained on station in international waters off [[Lebanon]], monitoring the conflict and ensuring the safety of remaining Indian nationals in Lebanon. The vessels left for their home ports on 10 August 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2006/july/23/india_news/two_more_warships_sent_to_lebanon_to_evacuate_850_more.html |date = 2006-07-23 |title = Two more warships sent to Lebanon to evacuate 850 more |publisher = IndianMuslims.info |access-date = 28 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190423/http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2006/july/23/india_news/two_more_warships_sent_to_lebanon_to_evacuate_850_more.html |archive-date = 27 September 2007 |url-status = usurped }}</ref> during the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict|2006 Israeli-Lebanese conflict]].

===Task Force Europe 2009===
During May–July 2009, ''Brahmaputra'' was a part of the Indian Navy task force on deployment to Europe. During this deployment, the task force participated in joint-exercises with the [[Royal Navy]] and the [[French Navy]]. Exercise ''Konkan-09'' with the [[Royal Navy]], was conducted off the coast of the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/Press090612.htm |title=Konkan 2009 |access-date=2010-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716065802/http://indiannavy.nic.in/Press090612.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Exercise ''Varuna 2009'' with the [[French Navy]] was off the coast of [[France]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/Press090615.htm |title=Varuna 2009 |access-date=2010-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716065813/http://indiannavy.nic.in/Press090615.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Fire and listing==
The ship met a major fire accident in the evening of 21 July 2024 while going through a major retrofit in [[Naval Dockyard (Mumbai)|Naval Dockyard]] in [[Mumbai]].The fire was brought under control with the help of firefighting units of the ship and that of the dockyard. The fire was doused by morning of 22 July. However, in late afternoon of 22 July, the ship had listed towards its [[port side]] and one junior sailor was reported missing for whom search operations had been initiated. The Navy carried out an investigation on the incident.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-22 |title=INS Brahmaputra suffers damage after major fire, one sailor missing |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ins-brahmaputra-suffers-damage-after-major-fire-one-sailor-missing/articleshow/111934210.cms |access-date=2024-07-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

The [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]] [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] [[Dinesh Kumar Tripathi|Dinesh K. Tripathi]] visited the accident site on 23 July and was briefed on the incident as well as the steps taken to make the necessary repairs. The Navy chief directed that all necessary steps be taken to ensure that the vessel returns to operational status as soon as possible.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2024-07-24 |title=Fire on INS Brahmaputra: Body of missing sailor recovered |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fire-on-ins-brahmaputra-body-of-missing-sailor-recovered/articleshow/111993528.cms |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> A Special Task Force, headed by a [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]]-ranked officer, led the probe to determine the exact cause of the incident and those accountable for the incident.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=Indian Navy's Rear Admiral to lead probe in INS Brahmaputra accident, accountability to be fixed |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/indian-navys-rear-admiral-to-lead-probe-in-ins-brahmaputra-accident-accountability-to-be-fixed20240723212423 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=[[Asian News International|ANI]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-05 |title=Navy seeks international specialists to salvage sunken INS Brahmaputra |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/navy-seeks-international-specialists-to-repair-sunken-ins-brahmaputra-2577146-2024-08-05 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

The body of the missing sailor was recovered on 24 July after extensive diving operations. He had been identified as [[leading seaman]] Sitendra Singh.<ref name=":1" />

The ship had listed on its port side at an angle of about 40 to 45°. The listing was most likely due to imbalance during firefighting operations. There had not been much ingress of salt water. The damage is not as severe as in the case of [[INS Betwa (F39)|INS Betwa]] accident and the damage will be assessed soon.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peri |first=Dinakar |date=2024-07-26 |title=Righting INS Brahmaputra could take up to three months |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/righting-ins-brahmaputra-could-take-up-to-three-months/article68450851.ece |access-date=2024-07-27 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The Navy reportedly sought a foreign specialist group for the salvage operation. While the process to make the ship upright and assessing the damage would take 3 months, it would take from 6 months to a year to bring the vessel back to service after the damage assessment.<ref name=":2" />

As of 19 November 2024, the ship was upright with the help of balloon-like structures and foreign agencies. This was done after the ship had been moved to a dry dock. Few additional months would be required to make it seaworthy. Later, a thorough assessment was also conducted on the damage and the repairs needed to operationalise the ship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-19 |title=Exclusive: INS Brahmaputra restoration reaches milestone after fire incident |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ins-brahmaputra-restoration-reaches-major-milestone-after-fire-incident-2635542-2024-11-19 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=India Today}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

According to a report of 25 May 2025, which categorised the capability of a naval ship into the standard operational components of "float", "move" and "fight", the first two elements of ''Brahmaputra'' will be restored by early-2026 while the "fight" element will be restored by mid-2026 making it fully combat-ready.<ref name=":3" />

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="5" heights="100px" widths="150px">
File:INS Brahmaputra Malabar 07.jpg|''Brahmaputra'' during [[Exercise Malabar#2007|Exercise Malabar 2007]].
File:INS Brahmaputra-2.JPG|''Brahmaputra'' departing Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 20 June 2009.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Brahmaputra class frigate}}
{{Frigates of the Indian Navy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brahmaputra (1994)}}
[[Category:Brahmaputra-class frigates]]
[[Category:Frigates of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:1994 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in India]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kolkata]]

INS Brahmaputra 1994 - Revision history

Janamkatha at 17:10, 5 May 2026