THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
ROURKELA, JULY 29, 2026
In a major boost to India's defence manufacturing ecosystem
and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Defence Metallurgical Research
Laboratory (DMRL), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), has transferred advanced manufacturing technologies for
strategic defence-grade steel to the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL),
significantly enhancing the country's indigenous capabilities in naval defence
production.
Under the Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology
(LAToT), DMRL has transferred the manufacturing technology for DMR-249B steel
plates in the 8–30 mm thickness range to SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and
Alloy Steel Plant (ASP), Durgapur. These high-strength steel plates are
critical for specialised naval construction. Additionally, the technology for
manufacturing DMR-249A and DMR-249BK grade steel billets has been transferred
exclusively to ASP, Durgapur, for use in the construction of naval ships and
submarines.
The formal transfer of the technology took place in Hyderabad
on July 21, 2026, where Dr. R. V. Hara Prasad, Director General (Naval Systems
& Materials), handed over the LAToT documents in the presence of Dr. R.
Balamuralikrishnan, Director of DMRL. Representing SAIL, the licence agreement
was received by S. Subharaj, Executive Director of ASP, Anurag Prasad, General
Manager (CMO), and Dr. Prasanta Kumar Padhi, General Manager In-Charge of the
Special Plate Plant (SPP) at RSP.
The technology transfer was formally marked at Rourkela Steel
Plant on Tuesday during a function held at the Executive Director (Works)
Conference Hall. On the occasion, Dr. Prasanta Kumar Padhi handed over the
LAToT documents to B. R. Palai, Executive Director (Works), RSP, in the
presence of senior officials of the plant.
DMR-249B is a high-strength, low-alloy structural steel developed by DMRL specifically for naval shipbuilding applications. The advanced grade offers an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the construction of lighter yet more durable hull structures for warships, submarines and other combat vessels. Developed indigenously to reduce dependence on imports, the technology is expected to strengthen India's self-reliance in strategic defence manufacturing.
The latest technology transfer further reinforces Rourkela Steel Plant's growing role in the production of specialised defence-grade steel and highlights its expanding contribution to the nation's strategic defence infrastructure. Industry observers believe the development will not only enhance SAIL's technological capabilities but also support the country's long-term objective of building a robust domestic supply chain for critical defence materials.
