New Delhi: In a significant contribution to India’s defense capabilities and the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India,’ Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the country’s largest public sector steelmaker, has supplied the entire 4,000 tonnes of special steel required for the construction of INS Nilgiri.
The ship, a powerful addition to the Indian Navy, was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15, 2025. The steel provided by SAIL includes DMR 249A grade hot-rolled (HR) sheets and plates, with contributions from its plants in Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela. The Bokaro Steel Plant supplied approximately 2,000 tonnes of HR sheets and plates, while the Bhilai and Rourkela plants contributed 1,600 tonnes and 400 tonnes, respectively.
INS Nilgiri is the lead ship of the Nilgiri-class Project P17A frigates, designed and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for the Indian Navy. These advanced guided missile frigates are 149 meters long, with a displacement of 6,670 tonnes and a maximum speed of 28 knots. The Navy had ordered a total of seven stealth frigates under the P17A project, with four built by MDL and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
SAIL’s role in supplying the steel for the P17A project underscores its critical support to India’s defense indigenization efforts. The company has previously provided special steel for other prominent defense projects, including the construction of INS Vikrant, further solidifying its position as both a major steel manufacturer and a trusted partner in national defense initiatives.
