MIDHANI, ADA Join Forces to Make High-Tech Steel for Attack Aircraft

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), a public sector company that makes specialty steel, signed a heavy MoU with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), India’s top aerospace research body under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in a huge boost to India’s push for more home-grown aviation technologies. Specifically, the agreement centers on the development of MDN100, a specialty steel with a high strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional toughness, that can be utilized in critical aeronautical uses.

MDN100 Technology will be used in making Highly Stressed parts of Combat Aircraft, particularly the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) which is being developed by ADA. Its superior strength allows for weight reductions, ideal for critical aircraft components that benefit both performance and efficiency.

The collaboration adds to MIDHANI’s continuing assistance to the DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), a state-run aerospace manufacturer. MIDHANI has been a key provider of materials for the aerospace industry, such as the SuperNi41 superalloy an advanced nickel-chromium-based alloy that is extremely heat resistant, especially in aero engines.

MDN100 is a significant step forward for the defense sector in India with an intention for the composition of specific materials to be custom-developed and manufactured in India to replace imported counterparts and ultimately enable self-sufficiency in indigenous combat aircraft manufacturing. The steel will be a crucial component of the ambitious program to create the AMCA, which is expected to form the backbone of India’s advanced fighter roster.

This cutting-edge indigenous technology will put India on the global map of advanced aerospace capabilities. The successful implementation of MDN100 will influence the configuration and performance of the Indian future combat aircraft for generations to come.