According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships, a Godavari-class vessel has an overall length of 126.5 meters, an overall beam of 14.5 meters, and a hull draught of 4.5 meters. The platform of the frigate is armed with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air guided missiles. INS Godavari was also among the first vessels in the world to carry two Sea King helicopters along with its 313-member crew.
"Being the first indigenously designed and constructed ship, she was showcased around the world as a symbol of India's growing military might and self-reliance," stated an Indian Ministry of Defence commemoration announcement.
The ministry also honored the Godavari 's successful participation in numerous operations and deployments, across the Indian Ocean and beyond, including a significant role in the 1988 'Operation Cactus' Indian Armed Forces mission, in which India thwarted an attempted coup d'etat against the Maldivin Government.
The Godavari-class design became a basis for the Indian Navy's Brahmaputra (Project 16A)-class guided-missile frigates. The principal difference is that the platform of the newer ship includes SS-N-25 'Switchblade' surface-to-surface missiles in place of the SS-N-2 'Styx' series on the Godavari-class frigates.
A decommissioning ceremony was held in Mumbai on December 23.
