Interview with Mr. Ankur Shah, Managing Director of Krishna Defence & Allied Industries

By Ninad Sheth

Krishna Defence and Allied Industries Limited (KDAIL) represents a strategic evolution in India’s defence manufacturing landscape. It core built is on specialised steel production that has now propelled the company into cutting-edge autonomous underwater systems.

Since 1997, the Mumbai-based firm has established itself as one of India’s few manufacturers with comprehensive in-house capabilities in metallurgy and precision engineering, producing special steel sections for shipbuilding and armoured vehicles for the Indian Navy and Army.

This deep expertise in materials science—particularly their work on indigenised steel developed in collaboration with SAIL—has become the critical enabler for their ambitious entry into underwater autonomy.

CEO Ankur shah spoke with Ninad D Sheth. 

Question. Under your leadership, KDAIL has expanded its technology partnerships and capacity, including work on India’s largest Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) for the Navy. Could you share the strategic vision behind these initiatives and how they align with India’s defence self-reliance goals?

Answer. At KDAIL, our strategic vision has always been about making India self-reliant by developing innovative solutions. The development of the AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) is a remarkable work in this journey. This project shows our commitment to move beyond being a component manufacturer to a design technology partner in strategic platforms. This new era of underwater autonomy is to align with the Navy’s push for self-reliant goals and the systems that can enhance surveillance, mine countermeasures, and operational readiness in Indian waters.

As the selected industry partner, KDAIL is contributing to design inputs, material innovation, and advanced fabrication supported by smart facilities and in-house R&D. Using our high-grade marine steel capabilities, we are contributing to the structural integrity and stealth profile of this platform and endurance of the country’s largest AUV. The goal aligns with the government’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India” vision, reducing reliance on imports while enhancing India’s capacity to design, produce, and export world-class defence equipment.

Q. Your company is a major producer of speciality steel for warships. Do you have any fresh capex in this sector, and are you looking at civilian shipbuilding as an avenue for growth as India embarks on that as a priority?

A. Recently KDAIL has undertaken a significant expansion at our Halol facility for shipbuilding steel warships, and the new capacity has already been operational since April 2025. This investment directly supports our role as a major producer of steel warships for the Indian Navy’s warship construction programmes. Importantly, we have DNV and ABS class certifications for our shipbuilding steel sections and bulb bars, reflecting KDAIL’s commitment to world-class shipbuilding and our capability to support both Indian and global naval projects.

As India prioritises becoming a global hub for shipbuilding and repair and maritime services, we see this as a natural avenue for growth. To support this further, we are progressing with approvals from BV, LRS, and IRS for our steel-building steel sections. These certifications are important for accessing international and domestic commercial shipbuilding projects. These initiatives enable KDAIL to play an important role in India’s broader maritime ambitions while reducing reliance on imports.

Q. How important has been the government focus on making India defence for your company in particular? Do you see a more favourable business environment?

A. The government has been very focused on creating an environment to favour both innovation and indigenisation through various programmes like Make in India, iDEX challenges, and so forth. For companies like ours, these policies have been placed on KDAIL to design and manufacture specialised products which would be used on critical platforms of the Indian Navy. These products, which were previously imported, reflect the confidence shown in us and the success of the government’s efforts to promote domestic capability. Such programmes not only provide direction but also give confidence to invest in capacity expansion and R&D. Furthermore, they encourage and give confidence to domestic manufacturers like us, and these efforts give us the ability to invest further in capacity expansion. Overall, the government’s policy has not only created a favourable business environment but has also reinforced our position as a trusted partner, contributing to India’s defence readiness and strategic independence.

Q. How important is it for India to nurture skills development in the sector for particular engineering talent?

A. Developing skills in the defence sector and engineering sector is important for India. As these sectors are dependent on the skilled engineers who can design, manufacture and maintain advanced systems and equipment. By supporting domestic skills, India can be less dependent on imports, promote local manufacturing and ensure that critical platforms are supported by a skilled engineer and capable of innovation and problem-solving.

Besides this, a strong focus on talent building ensures that firms can invest with confidence in R&D, enhance operational effectiveness, and maintain high levels of quality and safety. In the long run, this enhances not only the strategic and technological prowess of the country but also establishes a talent pool of trained engineers who can ensure long-term growth and help make India self-reliant in the defence sector.

Please give any details of exports that you are planning.

For the new products that we are developing, namely composite doors and hatches, we see good export potential to Southeast Asia and Middle East countries. We have recently received approval of some of our products from international maritime societies like DNV and ABS, which could pave the way for exports of the same. These approvals show the quality and reliability of our products and enhance confidence in our capabilities to meet international standards.

To support this, we are strengthening our manufacturing and testing infrastructure, including our in-house pressure testing facility and collaboration with VABO Composites to set up a new facility in FY26. This will enable us to scale production efficiently and meet both domestic and international demand. Our focus is on leveraging these certifications and capabilities to expand our presence in high-potential overseas markets, ensuring that our products contribute meaningfully to maritime safety and performance while opening avenues for sustained export growth.