Visakhapatnam: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the country’s largest public sector steel producer and a Maharatna company under the Ministry of Steel, has once again reinforced its role in India’s defence self-reliance. The PSU supplied nearly 8,000 tonnes of critical-grade steel for the construction of the Indian Navy’s newly commissioned frontline stealth frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri.
At a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam and presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the two state-of-the-art Project 17A multi-mission warships were formally inducted into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet.
SAIL partnered with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata by supplying specially developed hot-rolled sheets and plates from its plants in Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela. The Special Plate Plant at Rourkela alone has delivered over one lakh tonnes of critical-grade steel for tanks, missiles, and warships over the years, making it the backbone of India’s defence steel supply chain.
By developing indigenous critical-grade steel, SAIL has played a pivotal role in import substitution and in advancing the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives, reducing India’s reliance on imported special-quality steel for naval projects.
The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri not only showcases India’s design and shipbuilding prowess but also reflects the strength of a fully indigenous defence ecosystem — from foundational steel to advanced combat systems.
SAIL has a long-standing legacy of supporting the Navy, having supplied steel for iconic vessels such as INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Ajay, INS Arnala, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Surat, and INS Nistar. This enduring partnership underlines SAIL’s position as a trusted national manufacturer and a vital contributor to India’s naval modernisation drive.
