Hyderabad: Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), a Miniratna Category-I Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully producing Armour Grade Aluminium Alloy Wide Plates for defence applications through indigenous processing for the first time in the country. This landmark achievement marks a major step towards strengthening India’s self-reliance in strategic materials and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The achievement demonstrates MIDHANI’s capability to process high-strength 7XXX series Aluminium Alloy plates for armour applications using its state-of-the-art Wide Plate Mill. The Aluminium-Zinc-Magnesium (Al-Zn-Mg) alloy ingots were first forged and subsequently rolled into wide armour-grade plates of 23 X 1350 X 4500 mm (approx.), conforming to the required dimensions and performance parameters for defence applications. In an earlier developmental attempt, MIDHANI had also successfully rolled wider plates of 2XXX series Aluminium Alloy to dimensions of 8 X 2800 X 12000 mm (approx.). With its existing capabilities, MIDHANI can roll wider plates of width up to 3000 mm, further strengthening its technological edge.
With the successful development of both 2XXX and 7XXX series hard aluminium alloy plates, MIDHANI has established a first-of-its-kind indigenous capability in India for forging and rolling wide hard aluminium alloy plates used in strategic defence applications. Until now, wide armour-grade plates made from these high-strength aluminium alloys were largely imported to meet domestic defence requirements. The successful indigenous development of these materials significantly reduces import dependence while enhancing the nation’s capability in producing critical strategic materials within the country.
This milestone further expands MIDHANI’s portfolio of advanced materials for the defence and strategic sectors and reinforces its position as India’s premier manufacturer of special metals and alloys. The achievement aligns with the Government of India’s vision of strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing and enhancing technological self-reliance in critical materials.
