Godavari-class

The Godavari class, designated Project 16, consists of three guided-missile frigates built for the Indian Navy. This class succeeded the Nilgiri class and was the first indigenous warship design initiative undertaken in India. The project originated from requirements identified during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. Mazagon Dock Limited constructed the vessels, with the lead ship's keel laid in 1978.

The design uses a modified Nilgiri-class hull, enlarged to accommodate the operation of two Sea King helicopters. The propulsion system utilizes steam turbines and boilers, a decision based on the availability of domestic manufacturing facilities at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The ships feature an integration of Soviet, Western, and Indian systems. INS Gomati was the first Indian Navy vessel equipped with digital electronics in its combat data system. During mid-life overhauls, the Indian Navy replaced several original Soviet systems. The surface-to-air missile system was updated from Soviet-designed launchers to an Israeli vertical launch system, and the original twin-barreled main gun was replaced with an Italian OTO Melara gun. The vessels also carry surface-to-surface missiles, close-in weapon systems, and torpedoes. Sensor suites include air search radars, navigation radars, and hull-mounted sonar.

The Indian Navy commissioned the three vessels between 1983 and 1988. INS Godavari entered service in December 1983 and was decommissioned in December 2015. It was subsequently used as a target and sunk during a missile exercise in 2020. INS Ganga entered service in 1985 and was decommissioned in March 2018. INS Gomati, the final ship of the class, was decommissioned in May 2022. Following its retirement, INS Gomati was designated for preservation as a museum ship in Lucknow. Hardware from the decommissioned vessels, including missile systems, was reassigned for installation on other naval platforms.