DX Korea 2018: Upgraded Biho 30mm-missiles air defense vehicle in service with ROK army.

The upgraded K-30 BiHo (Flying Tiger) 30mm self-propelled anti-aircraft armored vehicle fitted with two launchers of KP-SAM Shin-Gung BOW shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile mounted on each side of the turret is now in service with the ROK (Republic of Korea) Army. The vehicle was developed to meet the operational requirements of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces for a highly mobile short range air defense system.

South Korean army upgraded BiHo with 30mm cannon and surface-to-air missiles at DX Korea 2018, defense exhibition in South Korea. September 2018. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Biho is based on the K200 infantry fighting vehicle tracked chassis, but has some differences. It has an extra road wheel in its suspension and uses a D2840L engine instead of the D2848T engine of the K200, with an increase in engine power from 350 horsepower to 520 horsepower, necessary since the K30 weighs almost twice as much as the K200.

The upgraded Biho air defense vehicle consists of twin 30 mm Oerlikon Contraves KCB weapons with a cyclic rate of fire of 600-rds/gun/min, each one being provided with 250 rounds of ready use ammunition, a TPS-830K surveillance and fire-control radar, an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), panoramic periscope, forward looking infrared system (FLIR), laser rangefinder (LRF), thermal sight, a TV camera, and a digital fire-control system. There is one pod with two launchers for the shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile KP-SAM Shin-Gung BOW mounted on each side of the turret.

With the KP-SAM Shin-Gung BOW missile that features an integral Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, full night and adverse weather capabilities, and a two-color infrared seeker, the Biho can destroy air targets at a maximum range of 5 km, while with the 30mm cannon, the maximum firing range is 3 km.

The Biho has a crew of four, with the driver at the front, gunner and commander in the turret and loader seating at the back of the vehicle. Mounted on the turret roof is the surveillance radar and mounted on the forward part of the roof is the day/thermal electro-optical tracker with laser range-finder which automatically tracks the target.

The Biho is motorized with a MAN-Doosan D2840L developing 520 hp. (388 kw) diesel engine coupled to a S&T HMPT500-3EK/4EK transmission. The torsion bar consists of six dual light metal rubber-tired road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and four track-return rollers on either side. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 60 km/h with maximum cruising range of 500 km.