MRF is set to become a major supplier of tyres for a slew of fighter aircrafts and helicopters of the Indian defence sector. The company was the first Indian company to make tyres for Chetak defence helicopters.

During Q1 of 2009, MRF secured orders from Hindustan Aeronautics for producing tyres for Chetak range of military helicopters. The company has already executed its first set of orders by producing 300-400 tyres for Chetak helicopters and will execute another order of a few hundred more by January 2010. The company is producing the tyres out of its Arakkonam factory, Chennai.

“We have now become a supplier of tyres for defence helicopters. We are in the process of developing tyres for fighter aircraft of Indian defence,” a top company official said, declining to elaborate. The firm will start producing tyres after securing approvals from certifying authorities such as Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CE-MILAC).

The order value of Chetak helicopter tyres was not disclosed. “Value is not very important in this case. What is important is the indigenous technology. We have developed a product which satisfies the stringent norms of defence establishments,” the official said.

Tyres for defence aircraft and helicopters are being imported till date. Directorate general of Aeronautical Quality Assurance and CEMILAC had initiated development of tyres for Chetak by MRF. The tyres have been developed by MRF as per the specification evolved jointly by CEMILAC and MRF. This is for the first time in the aviation industry that a tyre manufacturer for automobiles has developed aviation standard tyres.

The move to procure tyres from MRF underscores the increasing interest of Indian defence department to enhance the share of indigenous procurement.