Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the country’s largest steelmaker and a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking, has once again demonstrated its pivotal role in bolstering India’s defence capabilities by supplying critical-grade steel for two significant naval milestones: INS Ajay and INS Nistar.
Both vessels, launched and commissioned in July 2025, mark vital advancements in India’s naval preparedness and self-reliance. INS Ajay, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), is the eighth and final ship in the indigenously developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) series. SAIL provided the entire requirement of special DMR-grade steel plates for the vessel, ensuring enhanced structural integrity and superior stealth capabilities essential for undersea warfare operations.
Simultaneously, SAIL has supplied the full quantity of special-grade steel plates for INS Nistar, India’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), commissioned by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL). The vessel is tailored for submarine rescue missions, deep-sea diving support, and long-duration patrolling, strengthening India’s maritime safety infrastructure.
These contributions reflect SAIL’s unwavering commitment to national defence and its strategic partnership in realizing the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision. The company’s specialized steel has become the backbone of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, powering both combat and support vessels with homegrown materials.
As India continues to modernize its naval fleet with indigenous technologies, SAIL remains a cornerstone of this journey, providing the strength and resilience required to secure the nation’s maritime frontiers.
