Jindal SHL to make high-nitrogen steel for Defence sector

NEW DELHI: Stainless steel maker Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Ltd. has entered into an agreement with Defence Research & Development Organisation under which the government agency will transfer technology to manufacture high nitrogen steel for the defence sector to the company.

The deal comes after decade-long joint efforts in research and development by JSHL and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, the DRDO’s research wing, to develop the material.

“The transfer of breakthrough technology paves the way for development of equipment-specific application of high nitrogen steel (HNS) in the context of the army’s ongoing and futuristic programmes,” Abhyuday Jindal, vice chairman of JSHL, told reporters in the city on Wednesday.

The technology transfer will boost the government’s ‘Make in India’ programme, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said. The DRDO works under the Department of Defence Research and Development of the Ministry of Defence.

“This kind of initiative will push India toward self-reliance and global leadership in defence,” Bhamre said. Reforms in the defence procurement policy have given impetus to indigenisation and this initiative of DRDO and JSHL will pave the way for further acceleration of locally developed technology, Bhamre said.

Jindal said the company has all the technology and processes and doesn’t need to invest in technology as of now.

High nitrogen steel is corrosion-resistant, has better holistic capabilities and mechanical properties and is better than the material imported now, Jindal added.

“We want to be a strategic partner, work with PSUs, work with private industries, to supply this strategic raw material. That is our strength, we want to focus on it," Jindal told ET.

JSHL is working to produce additional variants of HNS with enhanced blast and ballistic protection to cater to niche requirements of the Indian defence sector. The potential applications of HNS include combat platforms like futuristic infantry combat vehicles, mine-protected vehicles, army bridges and army corridors.