Hanwha Unveils Advanced Weapons Including 'Biho Complex' at Indian Defense Expo

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Hanwha's defense affiliates, Hanwha Corporation, Hanwha Defense, and Hanwha Systems, announced on the 5th that they will participate in India's largest defense exhibition, 'DefExpo 2020,' with the largest scale among domestic companies to target the market.

The exhibition, held from the 5th to the 8th in Lucknow, India, is organized by the Indian government and features over 1,000 companies from more than 70 countries.

Hanwha will open a 250㎡ integrated booth focusing on introducing the latest ground weapon systems and advanced defense electronics products aimed at the Indian market.

For ground weapons, the 'Biho Complex,' a leading candidate for the Indian Army's short-range surface-to-air guided missile procurement project, will be exhibited in actual form. India is about to make a final decision on the procurement of surface-to-air guided missiles worth approximately 3 trillion KRW.

The Biho Complex is an air defense weapon system equipped with guided missiles on the existing Biho platform, capable of intercepting low-altitude intruding enemy aircraft, helicopters, and drones using a 30mm twin-barrel gun and guided missiles. Hanwha stated that it demonstrated excellent performance during the test evaluation for the Indian Army in December 2017.

Additionally, models of various equipment will be showcased, including the K9 self-propelled howitzer, which has achieved export success in India; a towed anti-aircraft gun independently developed by Hanwha Defense tailored for the Indian Air Force project; the Redback, selected as one of the final two candidates for Australia's future tracked armored vehicle project; and the new 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle, Tigon.

In the defense electronics sector, Hanwha Systems will introduce advanced surveillance and reconnaissance equipment based on its optical technology, such as portable multifunctional observation devices, electro-optical tracking equipment, and personal weapon sights.

Lee Sung-soo, CEO of Hanwha Defense, said, "We will continuously achieve export results by strengthening regional marketing with strategic products tailored to the characteristics of each region."

India is the world's second-largest arms importer and ranks fourth in defense spending. Recently, the Indian government announced an investment plan worth $13 billion (approximately 15.3 trillion KRW) over the next 5 to 7 years for military modernization.