Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the country’s largest public sector steel producer under the Ministry of Steel, continues to strengthen its partnership with India’s defense sector by supplying around 8,000 tonnes of critical-grade steel for the Indian Navy’s advanced frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri.

The two frigates were commissioned into the Navy today at Visakhapatnam in a ceremony presided over by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh. SAIL played a pivotal role in their construction, collaborating with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), providing hot-rolled sheets and plates from its Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela steel plants.

By developing and supplying critical-grade steel, SAIL has significantly contributed to import substitution and defense self-reliance, aligning with the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives. Rourkela Steel Plant’s Special Plate Plant alone has supplied over 100,000 tonnes of critical-grade steel for defense applications, including tanks, warships, and missiles.

The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri underscores India’s capability to develop a fully indigenous defense ecosystem — from foundational steel to complex designs and skilled crews. SAIL’s longstanding support to India’s defense sector includes supplying critical-grade steel for prestigious vessels like INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Ajay, INS Nistar, INS Arnala, INS Vindhyagiri, and INS Surat. This enduring commitment reinforces SAIL’s status as a trusted national manufacturer and a key contributor to the country’s naval modernization.

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