Automobile tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd formally announced the start of commercial production and supply of main wheel tyres of the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

This is a critical breakthrough in the indigenisation of the Su-30 the mainstay of the IAF, said Air Vice Marshall JK Singh, addressing an event to mark the start of commercial production of the tyres under the MRF Aero Muscle brand. Establishing a reliable domestic supplier for the critical component is important. The IAF faces significant delay and hassles when it is dependent on foreign suppliers.

MRF will be able to supply these tyres at about ₹ 56,000 a piece compared with over ₹ 1 lakh it costs to import.

MRF with a turnover of ₹ 13,500 crore annually is the 14th largest tyre manufacturer in the world and has the unique distinction of being the only aircraft tyre manufacturer in India.

Koshy K. Varghese, Executive Vice President – Marketing, MRF Ltd said the product the result of over six years of development in house has been cleared by the authorities concerned. They are manufactured at MRF’s Medak factory in Andhra Pradesh.

K.M. Mammen, Chairman & Managing Director, MRF Ltd, said the company has been associated with the armed forces for several years as supplier of tyres for Chetak helicopters. The demonstration of technological capability, self reliance in the key sector and the association with the Defence Forces are important.

The SU-30 tyre has been tested at ground speeds of 420 km an hour and loads in excess of 18 tonnes on each tyre.

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