Alloy Steels Plant (ASP) of SAIL said on Thursday that it produced for the first time in the country a special grade steel (DMR-292A), meant for use in submarines, for the Indian Navy.

The high-strength and low temperature item was manufactured according to the specifications developed by Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (Hyderabad ) of Defence Research & Development Organisation. The steel will be processed to plates through Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) directly or via Bokaro Steel Plant before supply to DMRL for further testing, a SAIL source said. The steel would be then ready for certification. The commercial production of this grade at ASP would add to SAIL’s capability in the field of special steel.

ASP, currently enjoys a stable partnership with defence establishments of the nation. Last year, it supplied another special (DMR-249B) grade steel, equivalent to Russian AB2 grade steel that went into manufacturing of India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier.

Apart from supplying steels for building warships, ASP supplies armour grade steels such as Spade amd Jackal to defence department through RSP or BSL-RSP route. It also provides special steels for arms and ammunition to Ordnance Factories.

ASP’s average annual sale to Defence sector exceeds 12,000 tonnes now. ASP primarily supplies steel items to the institutional sectors such defence, the Railways and their sister units.

jayanta.mallick@thehindu.co.in

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