SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has taken a significant step toward operationalizing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) AF-Mk2 by issuing a tender for the supply of nose wheel tyres. These tyres, designed to be mounted on the nose landing gear wheels of the aircraft, are critical for supporting its ground operations, including taxiing, takeoff, and landing. The tender specifies that the tyres must be capable of performing reliably across all types of conventional airfields, reflecting the versatile operational demands of this next-generation fighter. Each LCA AF-Mk2 requires two nose wheel tyres per assembly.
The move comes in the wake of Aero India 2025, held in Bengaluru last month, where Indian tyre manufacturer MRF showcased its cutting-edge contributions to the Tejas MkII program. MRF unveiled two specialized tyre variants developed for the LCA AF-Mk2: the LCA Mk2 Main Wheel Tyre (27.5 x 7.5-16 AEROMUSCLE TL) and the LCA Mk2 Nose Wheel Tyre (360 x 135-6 AEROMUSCLE M14 TL). These tyres, branded under MRF’s “Aero-Muscle” line, highlight India’s growing self-reliance in aerospace manufacturing and its ability to meet the stringent requirements of modern military aviation.
The nose wheel tyres are a small but vital part of this ambitious project. Mounted on the nose landing gear, they must withstand the stresses of high-speed takeoffs, landings, and ground maneuvers while ensuring stability across diverse airfield conditions—paved, unpaved, or semi-prepared. The tender’s emphasis on operational versatility aligns with the IAF’s need for a fighter capable of deploying from both established bases and forward airstrips, a key requirement in India’s varied operational theaters.
At Aero India 2025, MRF stole the spotlight with its Aero-Muscle tyres, tailor-made for the LCA AF-Mk2. The Main Wheel Tyre (27.5 x 7.5-16 AEROMUSCLE TL) is engineered to support the aircraft’s increased weight and speed, offering durability under the intense loads of combat operations. Meanwhile, the Nose Wheel Tyre (360 x 135-6 AEROMUSCLE M14 TL) complements this with a design optimized for steering and ground handling, critical for the Mk2’s agility on the tarmac.
MRF’s involvement in the Tejas program is not new. The company has been a key supplier to the Indian armed forces, producing tyres for platforms like the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, Dhruv helicopters, and earlier Tejas variants. Its Aero-Muscle line, first showcased for the Mk1 during Exercise Tarang Shakti in August 2024 at Sulur Airbase, Tamil Nadu, represents a leap forward. Compared to the LCA Mk1’s main wheel tyre (26 x 8.0-14), the Mk2’s larger 27.5 x 7.5-16 size reflects the aircraft’s upgraded payload and performance envelope. The nose wheel tyre, with its 360 x 135-6 specification, is similarly designed to meet the Mk2’s enhanced operational demands.
Manufactured at MRF’s Medak facility in Telangana, these tyres embody the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). Over the past two decades, MRF has delivered approximately 26,000 tyres for military aircraft, steadily reducing India’s dependence on imported components like the Dunlop tyres previously used on Tejas variants. The company’s rigorous testing—subjecting tyres to 1.5 times their required load—ensures they meet the exacting standards of the IAF and ADA.
MRF’s showcased tyres at Aero India 2025 likely position it as a frontrunner to fulfill this tender, given its proven track record and alignment with the Mk2’s specifications. However, the tender process remains open, inviting competition to ensure the best possible solution for this high-stakes program.
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