India and South Korea have reopened negotiations to procure the K30 Biho Hybrid short-range self-propelled air defence system in a deal valued between ₹21,500 crore and ₹22,400 crore. Bilateral discussions resumed during the 10th Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Industries and Logistics Cooperation held in New Delhi on September 29, 2026, where officials from South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and India’s Ministry of Defence evaluated joint defence manufacturing programs.
Developed by Hanwha Aerospace, the tracked K30 Biho combines twin 30 mm rapid-fire automatic cannons with surface-to-air missile launchers. The system is designed to accompany armored and mechanized formations over rugged terrain, providing mobile point-defence against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft.
Although the Indian Army initially selected the Biho system following field evaluations against Russian platforms, the procurement stalled due to domestic transfer-of-technology requirements and local manufacturing mandates. The renewed momentum behind the projected requirement of 104 units stems from evolving operational lessons, emphasizing cost-effective counter-drone shields. Negotiations center on high transfer-of-technology levels and localized production in India, leveraging established industrial partnerships such as the Hanwha–Larsen & Toubro ecosystem built for the K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer program.
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