South Korea and Russia competing for Indian Army's VSHORAD tender
It's Once again the South Koreans and Russians competing to Supply mobile VSHROAD systems to Indian Army, Recently India selected the South Korean K9 Howitzer who defeated the Russian Msta-S in Evaluation and Field Trails. It's once again the South Korean competing against the Russians for a multi billion dollar air defense missile deal, Indian Army currently operates the Sterla Mobile VSHORAD's which is not a good platform in current battlefield due to lack of High altitude engagements.
Here under the new tender Army needs a mobile system equipped with cannons and air defense missiles, Older Sterla having four surface to air missiles with low engagement rate, Sterla can bring down targets flying upto some 11,000 feet altitude only, Nowadays Helicopters can fly even higher than the Sterla engagement altitude, So army needs a new system which is much advanced systems for higher attitude engagement. Here the Russian Sosna R first competed, Later the South Korean Bi Ho also entered in the race. Where both are on final run to seize the Tender.
Sosna R
The Sosna R is high performing low cost short range mobile defense system, Which can perform fire on the move too, The System equipped with two six barreled 30mm cannon and another twelve ready to fire missiles. The maximum target interception altitude for the Sosna R's missile is some 15,000 feet, Which is a major disadvantage since MANPAD missile's like American stinger and European starstreak has engagement range upto some 25,000 feet. Which is good enough for engaging high flying targets.
Actually the Fighter jets can normally cruise at the altitude of some 35,000 or above. They also drop air to ground munitions and fire missile even at the same altitude, To intercept those high flying air crafts ground forces need most sophisticated systems. Indian Army is poorly equipped when dealing with such threats. Army's Igla and other missiles are decade old and poor engagement rate.
Sosna R is completely new system same like the Pantsir S1 systems, Which is based on the older Khasthan and evolved Palma system. The Sosna R is still in trails and yet to be delivered to the Russian ground forces.
The Sosna R work as a Stand alone system as well as can be integrated into network systems. The Sosna R comes with a Electro Optics and Radar system for effective surveillance and guidance. Sonsa system uses upgraded version of sterla missiles for target management. Which is a Infrared Guided missile. Most of the IR guided missile comes with fire and forget capability. Allows multiple target engagement simultaneously.
The six barreled twin 30mm Gun in the Sosna provide additional fire support for better engagement against low flying targets. The cannons can engage targets upto 3000 feet height. Which allows to destroy low flying cruise missiles and low flying other targets like UAV and Observation Helicopters.
Hybrid Bi Ho
The Hybrid Bi Ho is the South Korean system comes with single barrel twin 30mm cannon and two twin launched surface to air missiles. The Biho uses the south Korean Chiron man portable surface to air missile for target engagement. Same like Sterla the Chiron too limited upto some 12,000 to 15,000. As said above missile have low altitude engagement rate is not a viable solution for future battle planning.
The Biho comes with better surveillance and tracking system. same like Sosna, the Biho too work as a stand alone system and can be interconnected to air defense network. The Electro Optornic system and the Radar makes the system more reliable. The Biho have little enhanced target tracking system compared to Sosna.
Almost all of the VSHORAD designed to perform missions in low altitude, When comparing both of the system are better, however the Sosna Leads with the multiple number of Missiles and cannon. while Biho leads in sensor and EO Systems.
The Chiron also a fire and forget IR guided missile same like Sterla, Both are smarter enough to evade the countermeasure systems dispensed from the Fighter jets.
Conclusion
It's better Indian Army may reject both of the contender, due to the altitude limitation. Better scrap it and go for some other system having interception altitude of more than 25,000 feet. The Indian Trishul project based on French MICA missile is better for that, However the system doesn't have onboard cannon. However a 30 mm cannon won't make wonders in future battlefields. While one must understand about the importance of CIWS in warship.
