New Delhi: Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, has achieved a major milestone in India’s aerospace materials capability with the certification from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) for successful indigenization and airworthiness of Superalloys, Titanium alloys, and Special steels used in the AL31FP engine that powers the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.
Under an order received from HAL Koraput in 2024, MIDHANI embarked on the challenging task of developing and certifying several critical alloys used in the AL31FP engine. Within a short span, the company successfully achieved material-level development for 50 percent of the total alloy systems, of which 80 percent have already been certified. The remaining alloys are in advanced stages of development.
The certification by CEMILAC clears the way for series production of these indigenously developed alloys, enabling their use in manufacturing airworthy components for the AL31FP engine. MIDHANI has showcased its expertise by developing and producing mill forms and forgings of several advanced Superalloys — including Supercast BZL1, BZL14H, ZS 6Y, Superni 648, and Superni 698 — Titanium alloys such as OT 4-1 and Titan 33A, and Special steels like AE 866W and 16XH3BFMB-W. These materials are vital for safety-critical and mission-critical aero-engine components.
Over the past year, MIDHANI has significantly upgraded its production infrastructure by commissioning a new Titanium Shop to enhance airworthy titanium alloy output, installing a 6000T near-isothermal forge press, upgrading Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) furnaces for large-scale remelt stock production, and initiating the production of single-crystal superalloy master heats.
Presenting the certificate, A.P.V.S. Prasad, Chief Executive, CEMILAC, commended MIDHANI’s sustained indigenization efforts and urged the company to accelerate its certification initiatives to meet the timelines for accelerated material testing of engines. He highlighted the importance of such indigenous advancements in ensuring the operational readiness of India’s Su-30 fleet with domestically developed materials.
The certification ceremony was attended by Dr. S.V.S. Narayana Murty, Chairman and Managing Director, MIDHANI; A.P.V.S. Prasad, Chief Executive, CEMILAC; K. Madhubala, Director (Finance), MIDHANI; and senior officials from both MIDHANI and CEMILAC.
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