New Delhi, August 26, 2025 – The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, has reinforced its role as a key partner in India’s defense sector by supplying around 8,000 tonnes of critical-grade steel for two advanced frontline frigates – INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri – commissioned into the Indian Navy today at Visakhapatnam.
The commissioning ceremony, presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marked a significant milestone in India’s naval modernization drive. Built with support from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), both vessels used critical hot-rolled sheets and plates sourced from SAIL’s Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela steel plants.
SAIL emphasized that the supply of such high-grade steel highlights its contribution to import substitution and defence self-reliance, reducing India’s dependence on imported specialty steel. The company’s Special Plate Plant at Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) alone has already supplied over 100,000 tonnes of critical-grade steel for defence applications ranging from tanks and warships to missile systems.
“From the foundation of steel to the final deployment at sea, these frigates symbolize the strength of a fully indigenous defence ecosystem,” SAIL said in a statement.
The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri adds to SAIL’s long-standing history of supporting India’s naval fleet. The company has earlier supplied steel for landmark vessels including INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Ajay, INS Nistar, INS Arnala, INS Vindhyagiri, and INS Surat.
With this contribution, SAIL continues to position itself as a trusted partner in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India missions, underscoring its pivotal role in the nation’s defence preparedness and indigenization efforts.
