S Korea develops air defense vehicle

SEOUL - South Korea's arms procurement agency said Friday that it completed development of a multi-purpose air defense vehicle with guided missiles based on indigenous technology.

The 30 mm caliber air defense system was developed by combining the existing self-propelled gun vehicle called Biho with the portable ground-to-air guided missile named Shingung, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The system development was launched in 2010, led by local defense companies such as Doosan Defense Systems & Technology, Samsung Thales and LIG Nex1.

The DAPA said that the system modernized the existing self- propelled guns developed in 1980s, while enhancing combat capabilities by integrating longer-range guided missiles that can strike aircrafts flying at a low altitude.

The self-propelled gun was known to have a range of 3 km, with the surface-to-air guided missile having a range of 7 km.

The multi-purpose air defense vehicle planned to be mass- produced next year, before being deployed to troops in 2015.