Indian Army relaunches search for self-propelled air defence systems
The Indian Army has belatedly realised that it requires self-propelled air defence systems. It could have had K30 Hybrid Biho systems several years ago, until the MoD cancelled that competition. (Photo: author)
The war in Ukraine has underlined the need for mobile air defence. Unfortunately, India is making little progress in its own efforts so far.
In typical merry-go-round fashion, the Indian MoD has issued yet another RfI, this time for self-propelled air defence guns for the army. The tender document was released on 7 July.
With obsolete and mostly Russian-origin systems in service, the army desperately needs mobile air defence platforms to protect mechanised formations. The army is calling this project Self-Propelled Air Defence Gun Missile Systems (SPAD-GMS).
The armoured, self-propelled system can be tracked or wheeled (6x6 or 8x8), with a road range of 320km and speed of 40-60km/h. Either in single or dual vehicles, they must carry cannon and surface-to-air missiles (SAM), as
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