The country’s steel giant, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna PSU, has supplied the entire DMR grade special steel for the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. A major undertaking and towards building ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘, SAIL has supplied about 30,000 tonnes of special steel for the construction of this first swadeshi aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy, which will be commissioned on September 2, 2022 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
The steel supplied by SAIL for this domestic project consists of special DMR grade sheets. These DMR class plates were developed by SAIL in collaboration with Indian Navy and DMRL. DMR Grade 249 A labels were used for the hull and interiors of the vessels and Grade 249 B for the flight deck of this warship. The entire quantity of special steel, except for bulb bars, was supplied by SAIL’s integrated steel plants at Bhilai, Bokaro and Rourkela. This special steel, DMR plates, which was used for the construction of INS Vikrant, is an import substitute.
The commissioning of India’s first aircraft carrier is a momentous occasion for our nation during the 75 years of India’s Independence Amritkaal and signifies the country’s confidence and prowess. This indigenous aircraft carrier is a testament to the country’s technical foresight and engineering skills. This demonstration of India’s self-sufficiency (Atma Nirbhar) to manufacture an aircraft carrier warship will strengthen the country’s defense indigenization programs and the “Make in India” campaign. With the commissioning of INS Vikrant, our nation has entered the elite club of nations that can build their own aircraft carriers and it is extremely gratifying for SAIL to be a partner in creating this engineering marvel.
