The Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), a 'Maharatna' Public Sector Undertaking, has supplied all DMR grade special steel for the country's first land-built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. In a major achievement and en route to the construction of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', SAIL has supplied approximately 30,000 tons of special steel for the construction of this vessel for the Indian Navy, which was commissioned at Cochin Shipyard on 2 September.

The steel supplied by SAIL for this project consists of special DMR plates. These plates were developed by SAIL in collaboration with the Indian Navy and DMRL. Class 249 A DMR plates were used for the ship's hull and interior and Class 249 B for the cockpit of this warship. The entire amount of special steel, with the exception of the bulb bars, was supplied by SAIL's integrated steel plants in Bhilai, Bokaro and Rourkela. This special steel used for the construction of INS Vikrant is an import substitute.

"With the commissioning of INS Vikrant, our country has entered the elite club of countries that can build their own aircraft carriers and it is extremely gratifying for SAIL to be a partner in creating this engineering marvel," the company said in a statement.