The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a premier laboratory of DRDO, has transferred advanced materials technologies to SAIL, marking a significant milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous capabilities for strategic defence applications.
Under the Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT), the manufacturing technology for DMR-249B steel plates in the 8–30 mm thickness range has been transferred to SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and Alloy Steel Plant (ASP), Durgapur.
These high-strength steel plates are used in specialised naval construction. In addition, the manufacturing technology for DMR-249A and DMR-249BK grade steel billets has been transferred to ASP, Durgapur for use in the construction of naval ships and submarines.
Dr. R. V. Hara Prasad, DG (N&SM), handed over the LAToT to SAIL on 21 July 2026 at Hyderabad in the presence of Dr. R. Balamuralikrishnan, Director, DMRL. On behalf of SAIL, the Licence Agreement documents were received by Mr. S. Subharaj, ED (ASP), Mr. Anurag Prasad, GM (CMO), and Dr. Prasanta Kumar Padhi, GM I/c, Special Plate Plant (SPP), RSP.
In a function held at the ED, Works Conference Hall on 29 July 2026, Dr. Padhi handed over the LAToT documents to Mr. B. R. Palai, ED, Works, RSP, in the presence of senior officers of the plant.
It is worth mentioning that DMR-249B is a high-strength, low-alloy structural steel developed by DMRL for naval shipbuilding applications.
The grade offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, enabling lighter and more resilient hull structures for warships, submarines, and other combat vessels. Indigenously developed to reduce import dependency, the technology supports the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
The transfer of this technology further underscores RSP’s growing contribution to the defence sector and its role in strengthening national security
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