Desi Tyres on Sukhoi Fighters a Runway Hit
Anantha Krishnan M
05th March 2014
BANGALORE
- [
: The IAF started looking within the country after facing difficulties in sourcing tyres from abroad.]
The IAF started looking within the country after facing difficulties in
sourcing tyres from abroad.
The Indian fighter jets have begun the process of changing over to desi
tyres, probably signalling an end to escalating cost and non-availability
concerns.
The Indian Air Force sources confirmed to Express that the 'India shining'
story is being scripted by the MRF, which has got the clearance from the
military airworthiness officials to produce the main wheel tyres of
frontline fighters Sukhoi (Su-30 MKI). The indigenous tyres named
'Aeromuscle' are 30 per cent cheaper than the imported ones.
The IAF started looking within the country after facing difficulties in
sourcing tyres from abroad. It was even forced to use tyres from war
reserves for some aircraft, after supplies from Russia became an issue.
The idea to approach Indian companies was taken up during P V Nayak's
tenure as the IAF chief.
"The MRF agreed to do all design, development and quality tests at their
own cost in the nation's interest," an IAF official said.
The MRF took the tyres for dynamometer tests thrice to a facility in China,
incurring a cost of around `10 crore.
(A dynamometer test simulates the entire sequence of taxi, take-off,
landing and braking loads on the tyre.)
"Later, the tyres were sent for trials at the IAF bases in Bareilly,
Jodhpur and Leh in 2011. They were finally cleared for getting on to the
IAF assets in 2012. The MRF has so far delivered 350 tyres and the
remaining are being manufactured at their plant in Medak near
Hyderabad,"the official said. A Sukhoi has two main wheel and two nose
wheel tyres.
Seeing the success of 'Aeromuscle' tyres, the MRF has been given the
mandate of designing the nose wheel tyres for Sukhois.
"Currently, the fitment trials are over and they are being taken to China
for dynamometer tests. By June, these tyres will be sent to Bangalore for
the clearance of the Centre for Military Airworthiness and
Certification,"the official added.
Speaking to Express from Hyderabad, Dr K Tamilmani, Director-General
(Aero), confirmed that even the Indian Navy wants Aeromuscle for the
MiG-29Ks. "We are planning to change the Tejas tyres very soon, which will
be followed by Dornier, Pilatus and Hawk. Currently, the Tejas runs on
Dunlop, being imported from the UK," said Tamilmani.
He said aircraft tyres normally undergo various tests such as burst, air
retention, bottoming-up (emptying the air/flat tyres), fitment and taxi.