"IAF SUKHOI TO FLY ON MRF AEROMUSCLE"

"IAF SUKHOI TO FLY ON MRF AEROMUSCLE"

The Sukhoi 30 MKI's main wheel tyres were launched by Mr. K M Mammen, Chairman &
Managing Director, MRF Limited, along with Air Vice Marshal J.K. Singh VSM, ACAS

(M.P.) and Dr. K Tamil Mani, DG-Aero. /
MRF embarked on its journey into the aviation tyre industry in early 2001. The foremost
reason was to be an important partner in the indigenisation activities for the armed
forces. Similar efforts were successfully completed in developing special application
tyres for the special vehicles of the Indian army. MRF forayed into the aviation tyre
industry through the Chetak Helicopter tyres for the Indian Air Force and HAL. This
project fructified in the year 2007 and were commercialised from 2008. We have been the
only supplier of tyres for Chetak Helicopters to HAL and the armed forces, since then.
"We at MRF are constantly engaged in the process of taking our products to the next
level in line with our philosophy. Our R&D efforts are focused today on widening the
usage and applicability of our tyres. It is a matter of pride for us that the Indian Air Force
is inducting these Sukhoi 30 MKI tyres into their fleet," said Mr.K M Mammen.
MRF took up the next project of the main wheel tyres for the Sukhoi 30 MKI in 2008. This
project was anchored by CEMILAC, RCMA (Nasik), DGAQA, IAF and HAL. These tyres
were designed and engineered by MRF's in house R&D facilities. MRF's R&D capabilities
are completely its own technology. MRF 's R&D labs are NABL accredited and MRF is the
only Indian tyre company which has been accorded the status of an "Aircraft tyre design
house and test establishment" by CEMILAC. These tyres were designed based on the
performance inputs and criteria provided by CEMILAC, RCMA and the end user. The
tyres were subjected to various tests in India, before they were cleared for dynamometer
tests at China. After successful completion of the dynamometer tests in China, the tyres
were put to actual flight tests at various air-force stations by specialised test pilots of
ASTE. The successful flight trials further enhanced the confidence of all and the tyres
were cleared by CEMILAC for commercial production
These tyres have been tested for ground speeds of upto 420 km.ph. with loads in excess
of 18 tons per tyre. After completion of the tests, the product has been cleared by
CEMILAC (The certifying authority for Military aviation) for commercial production in
2012. MRF has now started supplies of its main wheel tyres for SU 30 MKI to the Indian
Air force. These tyres are being produced at its facility at Medak (Andhra Pradesh).
MRF is in the process of developing many more tyres for various aircrafts of the Indian
Air force, Indian Navy and HAL. MRF has invested in state-of- the-art equipments and
machineries for manufacturing of these high-end products with safety as its most
critical factor. MRF, remains committed to the nation's interest and in the years to come
intends to develop many more such tyres for the state-of-the-art aircrafts currently being
procured I developed.