Stories
S-400, THAAD, Project Kush: Hybrid Air Defense System Makes Evasion Impossible.
- •Modern warfare emphasizes air firepower and advanced air defense systems, as seen in the Russia-Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
- •India is considering acquiring the K30 Biho Hybrid Short-Range Air Defense System, also known as the 'Flying Tiger', to counter drones and low-altitude aerial threats.
- •The K30 Biho features 30mm automatic cannons and KP-SAM Shingung missiles, providing multi-layered security against drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft.
- •This system uses TPS-830K radar and an Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) for day and night target tracking, even under electronic jamming.
- •The Indian Army is exploring options to counter drone threats, including the K30 Biho acquisition, with potential for local production and technology transfer.
Key Questions Answered
The K30 Biho, developed by South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace, is a tracked, highly mobile short-range hybrid air defense system featuring two 30mm automatic cannons and KP-SAM Shingung missiles. It uses a TPS-830K radar and an Electro-Optical Tracking System to provide multi-layered security against drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft day and night, even under electronic jamming.
Discussions regarding the potential acquisition of the K30 Biho resumed during the 10th Joint Committee Meeting on Defense Industry and Logistics Cooperation in New Delhi on September 29. This comes as the Indian Army evaluates multiple options to counter growing drone threats, and previous acquisition plans are being revisited with a focus on local production and technology transfer.
A previous acquisition plan for the K30 Biho worth approximately $2.5 billion did not proceed because priority was given to domestic defense production, even though the system had successfully completed Indian Army trials.
