The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking, has supplied the entire requirement of indigenous special-grade steel for the construction of INS Androth, the second vessel in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) series. The vessel has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
The steel used in the construction was sourced from SAIL’s Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela steel plants, showcasing the company’s capability to produce advanced grades of steel required for naval applications.This milestone marks another step towards India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in defence production. SAIL has previously supplied similar special-grade steel for several Indian Navy warships, including INS Arnala, INS Udaygiri, and INS Himgiri.
A statement from SAIL highlighted that the company’s indigenous steel grades meet the stringent standards required for naval vessels, offering superior strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability—critical properties for warship construction.
Defence experts note that the use of domestic steel for INS Androth not only reduces dependence on imports but also strengthens India’s strategic autonomy and industrial ecosystem. By cutting import costs and procurement delays, indigenous steel manufacturing accelerates shipbuilding timelines and supports cost predictability for defence projects.
The development aligns with India’s broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, enhancing the country’s capacity to build advanced warships using homegrown materials and technology.
However, experts also caution that maintaining consistent quality standards and scaling production capacity will be key as India moves towards building larger and more advanced vessels in the future.
The successful use of SAIL’s steel in INS Androth reaffirms the growing synergy between India’s defence and industrial sectors, demonstrating the nation’s commitment to strengthening maritime self-reliance.