THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
ROURKELA,
JUNE 15, 2026
Reinforcing India's
march towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Special Plate Plant
(SPP) of SAIL-run Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has emerged as a crucial
contributor to the nation's strategic and security infrastructure through the
production of indigenous armour-grade and naval-grade steel plates.
The flagship
facility, dedicated to manufacturing armour-grade and quenched-and-tempered
(Q&T) steel plates for defence, naval and research applications, registered
an impressive performance during the last fiscal year by generating revenue of
more than Rs. 300 crore from its specialised products. Marking a significant
technological milestone, the plant successfully developed and dispatched 4 mm 2
PIE armour-grade plates to Ordnance Factory Medak, underscoring its capability
to meet the evolving and sophisticated requirements of India’s defence sector.
Commissioned in 1969,
the Special Plate Plant has built a distinguished legacy of supplying
high-quality steel plates to the Indian armed forces and naval establishments.
Its production capabilities have received a major boost with the commissioning
of a new Quenching & Tempering Furnace and an additional Heat Treatment
Line, enhancing output capacity fivefold from 250 tonnes per month to 1,250
tonnes per month.
The plant plays a
pivotal role in advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by catering to the
critical needs of defence and research organisations. Over the years, it has
supplied specialised steel for several prestigious indigenous defence projects,
including INS Vikrant, INS Kamorta and INS Taragiri, contributing significantly
to India's naval strength and strategic capabilities.
SPP has also supplied substantial quantities of Spade Grade and Jackal Grade steel plates to Heavy Vehicles Factory and Ordnance Factory Medak for manufacturing armoured vehicles. Jackal Grade plates have additionally been provided to Vehicle Factory Jabalpur for anti-mine protected vehicles. Among its other notable achievements are the rolling of plates for the Agni Missile Programme supplied to Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited and the production and dispatch of advanced naval-grade steels such as DMR-249A, DMR-249B and DMR-301 under the guidance of the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory.
As a pioneer in the production of heat-treated armour-grade steel plates for ordnance factories and the Indian Navy, the Special Plate Plant continues to strengthen India’s defence preparedness through technological excellence, advanced manufacturing capabilities and an unwavering commitment to quality. Its sustained contributions are helping build a robust indigenous defence ecosystem while enhancing the nation’s strategic autonomy and security.
