The Buk (russian: link=no, "Бук"; "
beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
" (tree), ) is a family of
self-propelled, medium-range
surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...
systems developed by the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
and its successor state, the
Russian Federation
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
, and designed to counter
cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhe ...
s,
smart bombs
A guided bomb (also known as a smart bomb, guided bomb unit, or GBU) is a precision-guided munition designed to achieve a smaller circular error probable (CEP).
The creation of precision-guided munitions resulted in the retroactive renaming of ...
,
fixed- and
rotary-wing aircraft
A rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotary wings or rotor blades, which generate lift by rotating around a vertical mast. Several rotor blades mounted on a single mast are referred to as a rotor. The Internat ...
, and
unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
s.
The Buk missile system is the successor to the
NIIP/
Vympel
Directorate "V" of the FSB Special Purpose Center, often referred to as Spetsgruppa "V" Vympel ( pennant in Russian, originated from German , and having the same meaning), but also known as KGB Directorate "V", Vega Group, is an elite Russian ...
2K12 Kub
The 2K12 ''"Kub"'' (russian: 2К12 "Куб"; en, cube) (NATO reporting name: SA-6 "Gainful") mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. "2К12" is ...
(
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are code names for military equipment from Russia, China, and historically, the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and other nations of the Warsaw Pact). They provide unambiguous and easily understood English words in a uniform manne ...
SA-6 "Gainful").
The first version of Buk adopted into service carried the
GRAU
The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated Russian acronym GRAU (), is a department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is subordinate to the ...
designation 9K37 Buk and was identified in the west with the NATO reporting name "Gadfly" as well as the
US Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secu ...
(DoD) designation SA-11.
With the integration of a new missile the Buk-M1-2 and Buk-M2 systems also received a new NATO reporting name Grizzly and a new DoD designation SA-17. Since 2013, the latest incarnation "Buk-M3" is currently in production and active service with a new DoD designation SA-27.
A naval version of the system, designed by
MNIIRE Altair
Marine Scientific Research Institute of radioelectronics or MNIIRE Altair design bureau (russian: Морской научно-исследовательский институт радиоэлектроники - МНИИРЭ «Альтаир») i ...
(currently part of
GSKB Almaz-Antey
JSC NPO Almaz named after A.A. Raspletin (russian: link=no, ГСКБ Концерна ПВО "Алмаз-Антей", former SB-1, 1947–50; KB-1, 1950–66; MKB Strela, 1966–71; TsKB Almaz, 1971–88; NPO Almaz, 1988–2008; GSKB Almaz-Ante ...
) for the
Russian Navy, received the
GRAU
The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated Russian acronym GRAU (), is a department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is subordinate to the ...
designation 3S90M and will be identified with the NATO reporting name Gollum and a DoD designation SA-N-7C, according to ''
Jane's Missiles & Rockets''. The naval system was scheduled for delivery in 2014.
A Buk missile was used to shoot down
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down by Russian forces on 17 July 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed. Cont ...
.
Development
Development of the 9K37 "Buk" started on 17 January 1972 at the request of the
Central Committee of the CPSU
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, – TsK KPSS was the executive leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, acting between sessions of Congress. According to party statutes, the committee direct ...
.
The development team included many of the same institutions that had developed the previous 2K12 "Kub" (NATO reporting name "Gainful", SA-6), including the
(NIIP) as the lead designer and the
Novator design bureau, which was responsible for the development of the missile armament.
were employed to develop
radar-homing capacities In addition to the land-based system, a marine system was to be produced for the Navy: the 3S90 "Uragan" (russian: link=no, "Ураган"; ''
hurricane
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
'') which also carries the SA-N-7 and "Gadfly" designations.
The Buk missile system was designed to surpass the 2K12 Kub in all parameters, and its designers, including its chief designer
Ardalion Rastov
Ardalion Ardalionovich Rastov (russian: Ардалион Ардалионович Растов; 17 June 1926 in Moscow, USSR – 31 July 2012 in Moscow, Russia) was a Soviet engineer and chief designer of Kub and Buk surface-to-air missile syste ...
, visited Egypt in 1971 to see Kub in operation.
Both the Kub and Buk used self-propelled launchers developed by Ardalion Rastov. As a result of this visit, the developers came to the conclusion that each Buk
transporter erector launcher
A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles.
History
Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-su ...
(TEL) should have its own fire control radar, rather than being reliant on one central radar for the whole system as in Kub.
The result of this move from TEL to
transporter erector launcher and radar
A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles.
History
Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-su ...
(TELAR) was a system able to shoot at multiple targets in multiple directions at the same time.
In 1974 the developers determined that although the Buk missile system is the successor to the Kub missile system, both systems could share some interoperability. The result of this decision was the 9K37-1 Buk-1 system.
Interoperability between Buk TELAR and Kub TEL meant an increase in the number of fire control channels and available missiles for each system, as well as faster entry of Buk system components into service. The Buk-1 was adopted into service in 1978 following completion of state trials, while the complete Buk missile system was accepted into service in 1980
after state trials took place between 1977 and 1979.
The naval variant of the 9K37 "Buk", the 3S90 "Uragan", was developed by the
Altair design bureau under the direction of chief designer G.N. Volgin.
The 3S90 used the same 9M38 missile as the 9K37, though the launcher and associated guidance radars were exchanged for naval variants. After the 9S90 system was tested, between 1974 and 1976 on the
Kashin-class destroyer
The Kashin class, Soviet designation Project 61, were series of anti-aircraft guided-missile destroyers built for the Soviet Navy since the 1960s. , no ships remain in service with the Russian Navy, but three modified ships continue in service ...
''Provorny'', it was accepted into service in 1983 on the Project 956
Sovremenny-class destroyer
The ''Sovremenny'' class, Soviet designation Project 956 ''Sarych'' (buzzard), is a class of anti-ship and anti-aircraft guided-missile destroyers of the Soviet and later Russian Navy. The ships are named after qualities, with "Sovremenny" tra ...
s.
No sooner had the 9K37 "Buk" entered service than the Central Committee of the CPSU authorised the development of a modernised 9K37 which would become the 9K37M1 Buk-M1, adopted into service in 1983.
The modernisation improved the performance of the system radars, its "probability of kill" and its resistance to
electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting info ...
(ECM). Additionally a non-cooperative threat classification system was installed, relying on analysis of returned radar signals to purportedly identify and clearly distinguish civilian aircraft from potential military targets in the absence of
IFF
In logic and related fields such as mathematics and philosophy, "if and only if" (shortened as "iff") is a biconditional logical connective between statements, where either both statements are true or both are false.
The connective is bicon ...
.
Another modification to the Buk missile system was started in 1992 with work carried out between 1994 and 1997 to produce the 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2,
which entered service in 1998.
This modification introduced a new missile, the 9M317, which offered greater kinetic performance over the previous 9M38, which could still be used by the Buk-M1-2. Such sharing of the missile type caused a transition to a different
GRAU
The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated Russian acronym GRAU (), is a department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is subordinate to the ...
designation, 9K317, which has been used independently for all later systems. The previous 9K37 series name was also preserved for the complex, as was the "Buk" name. The new missile, as well as a variety of other modifications, allowed the system to shoot down ballistic missiles and surface targets, as well as enlarging the "performance and engagement envelope" (zone of danger for potential attack) for more traditional targets like aircraft and helicopters.
The 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 also received a new NATO reporting name distinguishing it from previous generations of the Buk system; this new reporting name was the SA-17 Grizzly. The export version of the 9K37M1-2 system is called "Ural" (russian: link=no, "Урал"); this name has also been applied to M2, at least to early, towed, export versions.
![Shtil zrk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Shtil_zrk.png)
The introduction of the 9K37M1-2 system for the land forces also marked the introduction of a new naval variant: the "Ezh", which carries the NATO reporting name SA-N-7B 'Grizzly' (9M317 missile). was exported under the name "Shtil" and carries a NATO reporting name of SA-N-7C 'Gollum' (9M317E missile), according to
Jane's
Jane's Information Group, now styled Janes, is a global open-source intelligence company specialising in military, national security, aerospace and transport topics, whose name derives from British author Fred T. Jane.
History
Jane's Informatio ...
catalogue.
The 9K317 incorporates the 9M317 missile to replace the 9M38 used by the previous system. A further development of the system was unveiled as a concept at
EURONAVAL 2004, a vertical launch variant of the 9M317, the 9M317ME, which is expected to be exported under the name "Shtil-1". Jane's also reported that in the Russian forces it would have a name of 3S90M ("Smerch") (russian: link=no, "Смерч", English translation: '
tornado
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, altho ...
').
The Buk-M1-2 modernisation – based on a previous more advanced developmental system referred to as the 9K317 "Buk-M2"
– featured new missiles and a new third-generation
phased array
In antenna theory, a phased array usually means an electronically scanned array, a computer-controlled array of antennas which creates a beam of radio waves that can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving th ...
fire control radar
A fire-control radar (FCR) is a radar that is designed specifically to provide information (mainly target azimuth, elevation angle, elevation, ranging, range and range rate) to a fire-control system in order to direct weapons such that they hit a ...
allowing targeting of up to four targets while tracking an additional 24. A new radar system with a fire control radar on a 24 m extending boom reputedly enabled more accurate targeting of low-altitude planes.
This generation of Buk missile systems was stalled due to poor economic conditions after the fall of the Soviet Union. The system was presented as a static display at the 2007
MAKS Airshow
MAKS (russian: МАКС, russian: label=short for, Международный авиационно-космический салон, Mezhdunarodnyj aviatsionno-kosmicheskij salon, "International Aviation and Space Show") is an international air ...
.
In October 2007, Russian General
Nikolai Frolov, commander of the
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces (russian: Сухопутные войска ВSukhoputnyye voyska V}), also known as the Russian Army (, ), are the land forces of the Russian Armed Forces.
The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Forces ...
air defense, declared that the army would receive the brand-new Buk-M3 to replace the Buk-M1. He stipulated that the M3 would feature advanced electronic components and enter into service in 2009.
The upgraded Buk-M3 TELAR will have a seven rollers tracked chassis and 6 missiles in launch tubes.
Description
![Inside of a Buk-SAM (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Inside_of_a_Buk-SAM_%28cropped%29.jpg)
A standard Buk battalion consists of a command vehicle,
target acquisition radar This is a list of different types of radar.
Detection and search radars
Search radars scan great volumes of space with pulses of short radio waves. They typically scan the volume two to four times a minute. The waves are usually less than a meter ...
(TAR) vehicle, six
transporter erector launcher and radar
A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles.
History
Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-su ...
(TELAR) vehicles and three transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicles. A Buk missile battery consists of two TELAR and one TEL vehicle.
![9А39 TEL interior](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/9%D0%9039_TEL_interior.JPG)
The Buk-M1-2 TELAR uses the
GM-569 chassis designed and produced by JSC
MMZ (
Mytishchi
Mytishchi ( rus, Мыти́щи, p=mɨˈtʲiɕːɪ) is a city and the administrative center of Mytishchinsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which lies 19 km northeast of Russia's capital Moscow on the Yauza River and the Moscow–Yarosla ...
).
The TELAR
superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships.
Aboard ships and large boats
On water craft, the superstruct ...
is a turret containing the fire control radar at the front and a launcher with four ready-to-fire missiles on top. Each TELAR is operated by a crew of four and is equipped with
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consis ...
(CBRN) protection. It can guide up to three missiles against a single target. While the early Buk had a day radar tracking system 9Sh38 (similar to that used on
Kub,
Tor
Tor, TOR or ToR may refer to:
Places
* Tor, Pallars, a village in Spain
* Tor, former name of Sloviansk, Ukraine, a city
* Mount Tor, Tasmania, Australia, an extinct volcano
* Tor Bay, Devon, England
* Tor River, Western New Guinea, Indonesia
Sc ...
and
Osa missile system
The 9K33 ''Osa'' (, literally "wasp"; NATO reporting name SA-8 ''Gecko'') is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and fielded in 1972. Its export version na ...
), its current design can be fitted with a combined optical tracking system with a thermal camera and a laser range-finder for passive tracking of the target. The 9K37 system can also use the same 1S91 Straight Flush 25 kW
G/
H band continuous wave
A continuous wave or continuous waveform (CW) is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency, typically a sine wave, that for mathematical analysis is considered to be of infinite duration. It may refer to e.g. a laser or particle ...
radar as the 3M9 "Kub" system.
The 9S35 radar of the original Buk TELAR uses a mechanical scan of a
Cassegrain antenna
In telecommunications and radar, a Cassegrain antenna is a parabolic antenna in which the feed antenna is mounted at or behind the surface of the concave main parabolic reflector dish and is aimed at a smaller convex secondary reflector suspende ...
reflector, where the Buk-M2 TELAR design used a
PESA
The Pesa is a river in Tuscany, central Italy. It has a length of 53 km, and, after crossing the provinces of Siena and Florence, flows into the Arno River near Montelupo Fiorentino
Montelupo Fiorentino is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the ...
, for tracking and missile guidance.
The 9K37 uses the 9S18 "Tube Arm" or 9S18M1 (which carries the NATO reporting name "Snow Drift") (russian: link=no, СОЦ 9C18 "Купол"; ''
dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
'') target acquisition radar in combination with the 9S35 or 9S35M1 "Fire Dome"
H/
I band tracking and engagement radar which is mounted on each TELAR. The Snow Drift target acquisition radar has a maximum detection range of and can detect an aircraft flying at 100 m (330 ft) from away and even lower flying targets at ranges of around 10–20 km (6–12 mi).
![Control console of Buk-M2E missile system TELAR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Control_console_of_Buk-M2E_missile_system_TELAR.jpg)
The TEL reload vehicle for the Buk battery resembles the TELAR, but instead of a radar they have a
crane for the loading of missiles. They are capable of launching missiles directly but require the cooperation of a Fire Dome-equipped TELAR for missile guidance. A reload vehicle can transfer its missiles to a TELAR in around 13 minutes and can reload itself from stores in around 15 minutes.
Also, the Buk-M2 featured a new vehicle like TELAR but with radar atop of a
telescopic lift and without missiles, called a target acquisition radar (TAR) 9S36. This vehicle could be used together with two TELs 9A316 to attack up to four targets, missile guidance in forested or hilly regions.
The mobile simulator SAM Buk-M2E was shown at MAKS-2013. A self-propelled fire simulator installation JMA 9A317ET SAM "Buk-M2E", based on the mobile, is designed for training and evaluating the combat crew in the war environment to detect, capture, lock on to ("maintain") and defeat targets. A computer information system fully records all actions of the crew to a "black box" to allow objective assessment of the consistency of the crew's actions and results.
All vehicles of the Buk-M1 (Buk-M1-2) missile system use an
Argon-15A computer, as does the
Zaslon radar
The Russian (former USSR) BRLS-8B "Zaslon" (Barrier) is an all-weather multimode airborne radar developed between 1975 and 1980 by the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design as part of the weapons control system of the MiG- ...
(the first Soviet-made airborne digital computer, designed in 1972 by the Soviet Research Institute of Computer Engineering (NICEVT, currently
NII Argon). It is produced at a
Chișinău
Chișinău ( , , ), also known as Kishinev (russian: Кишинёв, r=Kishinjóv ), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Republic of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial center, and is located in the ...
plant originally named "50 Years of the USSR".
[The MiG-31 Foxhound: One of the World's Greatest Interceptors](_blank)
at Aircraft InFormation.info
at www.computer-museum.ru The vehicles of Buk-M2 (Buk-M2E) missile system use a slightly upgraded version of Argon-A15K. This processor is also used in such military systems as
anti-submarine defence ''Korshun'' and ''Sova'', airborne radars for
MiG-31
The Mikoyan MiG-31 (russian: link=no, Микоян МиГ-31; NATO reporting name: Foxhound) is a supersonic interceptor aircraft that was developed for use by the Soviet Air Forces. The aircraft was designed by the Mikoyan design bureau as a ...
and
MiG-33
MiG-33 was the development designation of the aircraft that was eventually delivered as the MiG-29. Certain variants of the MiG-29 were designated MiG-33.
The designation MiG-33 has been associated with two different Mikoyan fighter designs. It ...
, mobile tactical missile systems ''
Tochka'', ''Oka'' and ''Volga''. Currently, Argons are upgraded with the Baget series of processors by NIIP.
Basic missile system specifications
* Target acquisition (by TAR 9S18M1, 9S18M1-1)
** Range:
** Altitude:
* Firing groups in one battalion: up to 6 (with one command post)
* Firing groups operating in a sector
** 90° in azimuth, 0–7° and 7–14° in elevation
** 45° in azimuth, 14–52° in elevation
* Radar mast lifting height (for TAR 9S36):
* Reloading of 4 missiles by TEL from itself: around 15 minutes
* Combat readiness time: no more than 5 minutes
* Kill probability (by one missile): 90–95%
* Target engagement zone
** Aircraft
*** Altitude:
*** Range:
**
Tactical ballistic missiles
A tactical ballistic missile (TBM), or battlefield range ballistic missile (BRBM), is a ballistic missile designed for short-range battlefield use. Typically, range (aeronautics), range is less than . Tactical ballistic missiles are usually ...
*** Altitude:
*** Range:
** Sea targets: up to
** Land targets: up to
The system is estimated to have a 70% to 93% probability of destroying a targeted aircraft per missile launched (over 85% of Tomahawks in Syria). In 1992, the system was demonstrated to be capable of intercepting
Scud missiles
A Scud missile is one of a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was exported widely to both Second and Third World countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name attached to the mis ...
and large
rocket artillery
Rocket artillery is artillery that uses rocket explosives as the projectile. The use of rocket artillery dates back to medieval China where devices such as fire arrows were used (albeit mostly as a psychological weapon). Fire arrows were also us ...
.
Operation
The Buk is a mobile, radar-guided surface-to-air missile (SAM) missile system with all four main components – acquisition and targeting radars, a command element, missile launchers, and a logistics element – mounted on tracked vehicles. This allows the system to move with other military forces and relocate to make it a more difficult target to find than a fixed SAM system.
* The acquisition radar component (several variants have differing capabilities) allows the system to identify, track and target selected targets.
* The command component is intended to discern "friendly" military aircraft from foes (
IFF
In logic and related fields such as mathematics and philosophy, "if and only if" (shortened as "iff") is a biconditional logical connective between statements, where either both statements are true or both are false.
The connective is bicon ...
), prioritise multiple targets, and pass radar targeting information to the missile launchers.
* The missile launcher component can carry a variety of missiles (as listed below) and may be able to engage more than one target simultaneously.
* The logistics component carries additional (reload) missiles and provides other supplies and parts for the system and the operators.
In general, the system identifies potential targets (radar), selects a particular target (command), fires a missile (launcher) at the target, and resupplies the system (logistics). The missiles require a radar lock to initially steer the missile to the target until the missile's on-board radar system takes over to provide final course corrections. A proximity fuse aboard the missile determines when it will detonate, creating an expanding fragmentation pattern of missile components and warhead to intercept and destroy the target. A proximity fuse improves the "probability of kill" given the missile and target closure rates, which can be more than (or more than ).
Alternatively, the command component may be able to remotely detonate the missile, or the on-board contact fuse will cause the warhead to detonate. The most capable radar, assuming it has a line of sight (no terrain between the radar and the target), can track targets (depending on size) as low as and as far as . The most capable missile can hit targets as far as and more than in altitude. Since the introduction of the Buk in the 1970s, the capabilities of its system components have evolved, which has led to different nomenclature and nicknames for the components' variants. The Buk has also been adapted for use on naval vessels.
Integration with higher level command posts
The basic
command post
Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...
of the Buk missile system is 9С510 (9K317 Buk-M2), 9S470M1-2 (9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2) and 9S470 (Buk-M1) vehicles, organising the Buk system into a battery. It is capable of linking with various higher level command posts (HLCPs). As an option, with the use of HLCP, the Buk missile system may be controlled by an upper level command post system
9S52 Polyana-D4, integrating it with S-300V/
S-300VM
The S-300VM "Antey-2500" ( Russian: С-300ВМ Антеӣ-2500, NATO reporting name SA-23 Gladiator\Giant) is a Russian anti-ballistic missile system. The system is designed to target short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, aeroballistic ...
into an air defence brigade.
[KSA KP zrbr 9S52M Polyana-D4M]
at Missile Technology Information System of BGTU Voenmeh[ASU sg zrk 9S52M1 Polyana-D4M1]
at Missile Technology Information System of BGTU Voenmeh Also, it may be controlled by an upper-level command-post system 73N6ME "Baikal-1ME" together with 1–4 units of
PPRU-M1 (PPRU-M1-2), integrating it with SA-19 "Grison" (
9K22 Tunguska
The 2K22 Tunguska (russian: 2К22 "Тунгуска") is a Soviet and now Russian tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon armed with a surface-to-air gun and missile system. It is designed to provide day and night protection for infantry and ...
) (6–24 units total) into an air defence brigade, as well as SA-10/20 and SA-5 Gammon and SA-2 Guideline and SA-3 Goa and Air Force.
[ASU Baikal-1ME]
at Missile Technology Information System of BGTU Voenmeh With the use of the mobile command center
Ranzhir
Ranzhir (russian: Ранжир, GRAU designation 9S737 (russian: 9С737); en, ranking) is a Soviet/Russian mobile command center for several types of Russian anti-aircraft weapons, such as Tor, Tunguska, Strela-10, Igla and Osa.
It is used fo ...
or
Ranzhir-M (
GRAU
The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated Russian acronym GRAU (), is a department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is subordinate to the ...
designations 9S737, 9S737М) the Buk missile system allows creation of mixed groups of air defense forces, including
Tor
Tor, TOR or ToR may refer to:
Places
* Tor, Pallars, a village in Spain
* Tor, former name of Sloviansk, Ukraine, a city
* Mount Tor, Tasmania, Australia, an extinct volcano
* Tor Bay, Devon, England
* Tor River, Western New Guinea, Indonesia
Sc ...
,
Tunguska,
Strela-10
The 9K35 ''Strela-10'' (russian: 9К35 «Стрела-10»; en, arrow) is a Soviet highly mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile system. It is visually aimed, and utilizes optical/ infrared-guidance. The system is primarily intended to engag ...
, and
Igla.
[UBCP 9S737M]
at Missile Technology Information System of BGTU Voenmeh "Senezh"
[Senezh-M1E]
at OKB Peleng
OKB is a transliteration of the Russian initials of "" – , meaning 'experiment and design bureau'. During the Soviet era, OKBs were closed institutions working on design and prototyping of advanced technology, usually for military applications. ...
website is another optional command post for a free mixing of any systems. In addition to mixing their potential, each of the air defense system with the aid of Senezh can become part of another air defence system (missile's / radar's / targeting information). The system works automatically. But for the full realisation of all functions, a Senezh-control system need various other monitoring systems for air defence and air force. Otherwise a Senezh system will work as a command centre, but not within a free association.
Naval versions
3S90 "Uragan" / M-22, or for export "Shtil"
![Indian-navy-missile](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Indian-navy-missile.jpg)
The 3S90 "Uragan" (russian: link=no, Ураган; ''
hurricane
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
'') is the naval variant of the 9K37 "Buk" and has the NATO reporting name "Gadfly" and US DoD designation SA-N-7, it also carries the designation M-22. The export version of this system is known as "Shtil" (russian: link=no, Штиль; ''
still
A still is an apparatus used to distill liquid mixtures by heating to selectively boil and then cooling to condense the vapor. A still uses the same concepts as a basic distillation apparatus, but on a much larger scale. Stills have been used ...
''). The 9М38 missiles from the 9K37 "Buk" are also used on the 3S90 "Uragan". The launch system is different with missiles being loaded vertically onto a single arm trainable launcher, this launcher is replenished from an under-deck magazine with a 24-round capacity, loading takes 12 seconds to accomplish.
The Uragan uses the MR-750 Top Steer
D/
E band as a target acquisition radar (naval analogue of the 9S18 or 9S18M1) which has a maximum detection range of depending on the variant. The radar performing the role of the 9S35 the 3R90 Front Dome
H/
I band tracking and engagement radar with a maximum range of .The 'E' version = extended has a range of 50 to 70 km.
The Uragan underwent trials from 1974 aboard the Project 61 destroyer Provorny, prior to being introduced aboard the Project 956 Sovremenny class, with the first of class commissioned in 1980. The Uragan was officially adopted for service in 1983.
3S90 "Ezh"
The modernised version of the 3S90 is the 9K37M1-2 (or 9K317E) "Ezh", which carries the NATO reporting name "Grizzly" or SA-N-12 and the export designation "Shtil". It uses the new 9M317 missile.
In 1997, India signed a contract for the three Project 1135.6 frigates with "Shtil". Later, when the decision was made to modernise it with a new package of hardware & missiles, the name changed to "Shtil-1".
3S90M, or for export "Shtil-1"
In 2004, the first demonstration module of the new 9M317M (export 9M317ME) missile was presented by
Dolgoprudniy Scientific and Production Plant for the upgraded 3S90M / "Shtil-1" naval missile system (jointly with
'Altair'), designed primary for use on warships.
It has 2 styles of launchers, a single-rail launcher and vertical launch system. For single-rail launcher, each launcher consists of 24 missiles and a maximum of 4 launchers can be used together, while for vertical launch system, each launcher consists of 12 missiles and a maximum of 12 launchers can be used together.
Old systems Uragan, Ezh and Shtil could be upgraded to Shtil-1 by replacing the launcher module inside the ship. It has a range of 32 km for rail launcher 50 km for VLS launcher.
The reaction time is 10–19 seconds for single-rail launcher and 5–10 seconds for vertical launch system, and there are various differences in missile characteristics for both launcher styles.
The interval between starts is less 2 seconds. To protect against boats, helicopters, aircraft, anti-ship missiles.
The first Shtil-1 systems were installed into ships exported to India and China, specifically
Talwar-class frigate
The ''Talwar''-class frigates or Project 11356 are a class of Stealth technology, stealth guided missile frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The ''Talwar''-class guided missile frigates are the improved versions of the Kr ...
and
Type 052B destroyer
The Type 052B (NATO/ OSD Luyang I-class destroyer is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052B was China's first modern destroyer designKirchberger (2015): page 195McDevit ...
.
[Russian Anti-Aircraft Missiles & Systems]
by Peter F. Berezovsky
by Miroslav Gyürösi, Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 18 November 2004
It is also in service of the
Russian Navy, specifically the
Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate
The ''Admiral Grigorovich''-class, also referred to as Krivak V class, Russian designation Project 11356R, is a class of frigates built by the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad for the Russian Navy and Indian Navy, with a cost of $450-500 million. ...
.
Operational history
Combat service
Georgia
*
Abkhaz authorities claimed that Buk air defense system was used to shoot down four Georgian drones at the beginning of May 2008.
* Initial reports on Georgian Buk missile system success claimed that the system was responsible for shooting down four Russian aircraft—three
Sukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 ''Grach'' (russian: Грач (''rook''); NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi. It was designed to provide close air support for Soviet Gro ...
close air support aircraft and a
Tupolev Tu-22M
The Tupolev Tu-22M (russian: Туполев Ту-22М; NATO reporting name: Backfire) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Tupolev, Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1960s. According ...
strategic bomber—in the
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 Russo-Georgian WarThe war is known by a variety of other names, including Five-Day War, August War and Russian invasion of Georgia. was a war between Georgia, on one side, and Russia and the Russian-backed self-proclaimed republics of Sou ...
.
U.S. officials have said Georgian Buk-1M was certainly the cause of the Tu-22M's loss and contributed to the losses of the three Su-25s.
[Georgian Military Folds Under Russian Attack](_blank)
By David A. Fulghum, Douglas Barrie, Robert Wall and Andy Nativi, AW&ST, 15 August 2008 According to some analysts, the loss of four aircraft was surprising and a heavy toll for Russia given the small size of Georgia's military.
[War Reveals Russia's Military Might and Weakness](_blank)
By Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
, 18 August 2008[Georgia war shows Russian army strong but flawed](_blank)
, Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency was estab ...
, 20 August 2008 Some have also pointed out that Russian
electronic counter-measures
An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting info ...
systems were apparently unable to jam and suppress enemy SAMs in the conflict
[Russian Army's weaknesses exposed during war in Georgi](_blank)
, Nikita Petrov, RIA Novosti
RIA Novosti (russian: РИА Новости), sometimes referred to as RIAN () or RIA (russian: РИА, label=none) is a Russian state-owned domestic news agency. On 9 December 2013 by a decree of Vladimir Putin it was liquidated and its asse ...
), 9 September 2008 and that Russia was, surprisingly, unable to come up with effective countermeasures against missile systems it had designed.
Georgia bought these missile systems from Ukraine; there was an inquiry to determine if the purchase was illegal. According to
Moscow Defense Brief
''Moscow Defense Brief'' is an English-language defense magazine published by Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), an independent defense think-tank in Moscow, Russia. six and not four aircraft (Georgia maintains the higher numbers), were shot down, but Russia claims that the three Su-25s were shot down by friendly fire, while highlighting a serious issue in the coordination of Russian Air Force and its ground forces during that war.
Russia–Ukraine War
* The system was used to shoot down the
Boeing 777-200ER
The Boeing 777, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, is an American long-range wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet.
The 777 was designed to bridge the gap betw ...
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down by Russian forces on 17 July 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed. Cont ...
, on 17 July 2014, in eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people.
Evidence included missile fragments found on site including pieces of warhead stuck in the wreckage as well as non-explosive parts of the missile with serial number remnants. Missile fragments were recovered from the bodies of the flight crew.
*On 7 August 2014, pro-Russian separatist forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force
Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 (russian: Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG- ...
with a Buk surface-to-air missile near the town of
Yenakievo
Yenakiieve ( uk, Єна́кієве, ''Yenákiieve'', ; russian: Ена́киево, ''Yenákiyevo'') is a city in the Donetsk Oblast (province) of eastern Ukraine. It is incorporated as a city of oblast significance (a special status within t ...
. The pilot managed to eject.
Middle East
*On 14 April 2018, American, British, and French forces
launched a barrage of 105 air-to-surface and cruise missiles targeting eight sites in Syria. The
Russian Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (russian: Министерство обороны Российской Федерации, Минобороны России, informally abbreviated as МО, МО РФ or Minoboron) is the govern ...
said that twenty-nine Buk-M2E missiles launched in response destroyed twenty-four incoming missiles. The
SOHR
, image = Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Logo.jpg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = The logo of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
, type = NGO
, founded_date =
, founder ...
, which is cited by many independent media organisations, reported that the
Syrian Air Defense Force
The Syrian Air Defense Force (SyADF), officially the Syrian Arab Air Defense Force ( ar, قوات الدفاع الجوي العربي السوري) is an independent command within the Syrian Armed Forces. It is responsible for protecting the S ...
intercepted and shot down at least 65 missiles.
The American Department of Defense said that no missiles were shot down.
* On 19 July 2021, four
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; he, זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, tl, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defense ...
F-16 fighters entered Syria's airspace via the US-controlled al-Tanf zone and fired eight guided missiles at an area southeast of
Aleppo
)), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black".
, motto =
, image_map =
, mapsize =
, map_caption =
, image_map1 =
...
. Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said that seven missiles were shot down by the Russian-made
Pantsyr-S and Buk-M2 systems of the Syrian Air Defense Forces. Buk-M2E reportedly continued interceptions through the beginning of September.
Missiles
9М38 and 9М38M1 missile
The 9M38 uses a single-stage X-winged design without any detachable parts; its exterior design is similar to the American
Tartar and
Standard Standard may refer to:
Symbols
* Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs
* Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification
Norms, conventions or requirements
* Standard (metrology), an object th ...
surface-to-air missile series. The design had to conform to strict naval dimension limitations, allowing the missile to be adapted for the M-22 SAM system in the
Soviet Navy. Each missile is long, weighs and carries a relatively large warhead which is triggered by a radar
proximity fuze
A proximity fuze (or fuse) is a Fuze (munitions), fuze that detonates an Explosive material, explosive device automatically when the distance to the target becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Proximity fuzes are designed for targets such ...
. In the forward compartment of the missile, a semi-active homing radar head (9E50, russian: link=no, 9Э50, 9Э50М1), autopilot equipment, power source and warhead are located. The homing method chosen was
proportional navigation For example, if the line of sight rotates slowly from north to east, the missile should turn to the right by a certain factor faster than the LOS-rate. This factor is ''N''.
Proportional navigation (also known as PN or Pro-Nav) is a guidance law ...
. Some elements of the missile were compatible with the Kub's 3M9; for example, its forward compartment diameter , which was less than the rear compartment diameter. 9M38M1 contains about 8000 shrapnel elements in the warhead, of which every fourth is in the shape of a butterfly.
![036 - BUK M1 (38536876252)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/036_-_BUK_M1_%2838536876252%29.jpg)
The 9M38 surface-to-air missile uses a two-mode
solid-fuel rocket
A solid-propellant rocket or solid rocket is a rocket with a rocket engine that uses solid propellants ( fuel/oxidizer). The earliest rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder; they were used in warfare by the Arabs, Chinese, Persian ...
engine with total burn time of about 15 seconds; the
combustion chamber
A combustion chamber is part of an internal combustion engine in which the fuel/air mix is burned. For steam engines, the term has also been used for an extension of the firebox which is used to allow a more complete combustion process.
Interna ...
is reinforced by metal. For the purpose of reducing the centring dispersion while in flight, the combustion chamber is located close to the centre of the missile and includes a longer gas pipe. The 9M38 is capable of readiness without inspection for at least 10 years of service. The missile is delivered to the army in the 9Ya266 (9Я266) transport container.
9M317 missile
The 9M317 missile was developed as a common missile for the Russian Ground Force's Air Defence Forces (PVO) (using ''Buk-M1-2'') as well as for ship-based PVO of the
Russian Navy (''Ezh''). Its exterior design bears a resemblance to the
Vympel
Directorate "V" of the FSB Special Purpose Center, often referred to as Spetsgruppa "V" Vympel ( pennant in Russian, originated from German , and having the same meaning), but also known as KGB Directorate "V", Vega Group, is an elite Russian ...
R-37 air-to-air missile.
The unified multi-functional 9M317 (export designation 9M317E) can be used to engage aerodynamic, ballistic, above-water and
radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...
contrast targets from both land and sea. Examples of targets include tactical
ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the ...
s, strategic
cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhe ...
s,
anti-ship missile
An anti-ship missile (AShM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. A good ...
s, tactical, strategic and army aircraft and helicopters. It was designed by OJSC
Dolgoprudny Scientific Production Plant
OJSC Dolgoprudnenskoye Scientific Production Plant (also translated as Dolgoprudny Research Production Enterprise, russian: Долгопрудненское научно-производственное предприятие) or DNPP for short is ...
(DNPP). The maximum engagable target speed was 1200 m/s
and it can tolerate an acceleration overload of 24G. It was first used with Buk-M1-2 system of the land forces and the Shtil-1 system of the naval forces.
In comparison with 9M38M1, the 9M317 has a larger defeat area, which is up to 45 km of range and 25 km of altitude and of lateral parameter, and a larger target classification. Externally the 9M317 differs from the 9M38M1 by a smaller wing chord. It uses the inertial correction control system with semi-active radar homing, using the
proportional navigation For example, if the line of sight rotates slowly from north to east, the missile should turn to the right by a certain factor faster than the LOS-rate. This factor is ''N''.
Proportional navigation (also known as PN or Pro-Nav) is a guidance law ...
(PN) targeting method.
The semi-active missile homing radar head (used in 9E420, russian: link=no, 9Э420) as well as 9E50M1 for the 9M38M1 missile (9E50 for 9M38) and 1SB4 for Kub missile (russian: link=no, 1СБ4) was designed by
MNII Agat (
Zhukovskiy) and manufactured by
MMZ at
Ioshkar-Ola
Yoshkar-Ola (Mari language, Mari and russian: Йошкар-Ола) is the capital city of the Mari El Republic, Russia. Yoshkar-Ola means “red city” in Meadow Mari language, Mari and was formerly known as Tsaryovokokshaysk () before 1919, as ...
.
The 9M317 missile uses active homing when approaching the target.
9M317M and 9M317A missiles
Currently, several modernised versions are ordered, including the 9M317M / 9M317ME, and
active radar homing
Active radar homing (ARH) is a missile guidance method in which a missile contains a radar transceiver (in contrast to semi-active radar homing, which uses only a receiver) and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target aut ...
(ARH) missile 9M317A / 9M317MAE.
The lead developer,
NIIP, reported the testing of the 9M317A missile within Buk-M1-2A ''"OKR Vskhod"'' (''Sprout'' in English) in 2005. The range is reported as being up to , maximum altitude around 25 km (82,000 ft) and maximum target speed around
Mach 4. The weight of the missile has increased slightly to 720 kg (1587 lb).
The missile's ''Vskhod'' development program for the Buk-M1-2A was completed in 2011. This missile could increase the survival capability and firing performance of the Buk-M1-2A using its ability to hit targets over the horizon.
In 2011,
Dolgoprudny NPP completed preliminary trials of the new autonomous target missile system ''OKR Pensne'' (''pince-nez'' in English) developed from earlier missiles.
9M317M(E) missile
The weight of the missile is 581 kg, including the 62 kg
blast fragmentation warhead initiated by a dual-mode radar proximity fuze. Dimensions of the hull are 5.18 m length; 0.36 m maximum diameter. Range is 2.5–32 km in a 3S90M / "Shtil-1" naval missile system. Altitude of targets from 15 m up to 15 km (and from 10 m to 10 km against other missiles). 9M317ME missiles can be fired at 2-second intervals, while its reaction (readiness) time is up to 10 s.
The missile was designed to be single-staged,
inertial guidance
An inertial navigation system (INS) is a navigation device that uses motion sensors (accelerometers), rotation sensors ( gyroscopes) and a computer to continuously calculate by dead reckoning the position, the orientation, and the velocity (dire ...
,
radio control
Radio control (often abbreviated to RC) is the use of control signals transmitted by radio to remotely control a device. Examples of simple radio control systems are garage door openers and keyless entry systems for vehicles, in which a small ...
mid-course update
Command guidance is a type of missile guidance in which a ground station or aircraft relay signals to a guided missile via radio control or through a wire connecting the missile to the launcher and tell the missile where to steer to intercept its ...
and terminal
semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing (SARH) is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer-range Air-to-air missile, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is ...
.
The tail surfaces have a span of 0.82 m when deployed after the missile leaves the launch container by a spring mechanism. Four gas-control vanes operating in the motor efflux turn the missile towards the required direction of flight. After the turnover manoeuvre, they are no longer used and subsequent flight controlled via moving tail surfaces. A dual-mode solid-propellant rocket motor provides the missile with a maximum speed of Mach 4.5.
Comparison
Other variants
Original design tree
* 9K37-1 'Buk-1' – First Buk missile system variant accepted into service, incorporating a 9A38 TELAR within a 2K12M3 Kub-M3 battery.
* 9K37 'Buk'- The completed Buk missile system with all new system components, back-compatible with
2K12 Kub
The 2K12 ''"Kub"'' (russian: 2К12 "Куб"; en, cube) (NATO reporting name: SA-6 "Gainful") mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. "2К12" is ...
.
* 9K37M1 'Buk-M1' – An improved variant of the original 9K37 which entered into service with the then Soviet armed forces.
* 9K37M1-2 'Buk-M1-2' ('Gang' for export markets) – An improved variant of the 9K37M1 'Buk-M1' which entered into service with the Russian armed forces.
* 9K317 'Ural' – initial design of Buk-M2 which entered into service with the Russian armed forces
![Buk-m2 ky](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Buk-m2_ky.jpg)
* 9K317E 'Buk-M2E' – revised design for export markets
* 9K37M1-2A 'Buk-M1-2A' – redesign of Buk-M1-2 for the use of 9M317A missile
* 'Buk-M2EK'
[Russia celebrates the Day of military drivers](_blank)
, 29 May 2010 – A wheeled variant of Buk-M2 on MZKT-6922 chassis exported to Venezuela and Syria.
* 9K317M 'Buk-M3' – A SAM battalion has 36 target channels in total.
Naval version design tree
* 3S90/M-22 Uragan (SA-N-7 "Gadfly") – Naval version of the 9K37 Buk missile system with 9M38/9M38M1 missile.
* 3S90 Ezh (SA-N-7B/SA-N-12 'Grizzly') – Naval version of the 9K37M1-2 with 9M317 missile.
* 3S90 Shtil (SA-N-7C 'Gollum') – Naval export version of the 9K37M1-2 with 9M317E missile.
* 3S90E.1 "Shtil-1" (SA-N-12 'Grizzly') – Naval export version with 9M317ME missile.
* 3S90M Smerch (SA-N-12 'Grizzly') – naval version with 9M317M missile.
Copies
![Buk-MB3K missile launcher (6)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Buk-MB3K_missile_launcher_%286%29.jpg)
* – In May on the MILEX-2005 exposition in Minsk, Belarus presented their own digital upgrade package for early models of 9K37 Buk, called Buk-MB.
[Army prepares to test upgraded BUK missile system](_blank)
, Charter'97, 11 October 2005 On 26 June 2013 an exported version of Buk-MB was displayed on a military parade in Baku. It included the new 80K6M Ukrainian-build radar on an MZKT chassis (instead the old 9S18M1) and the new Russian-build missile 9M317 (as in Buk-M2). Buk-MB has been sold to Azerbaijan.
![HQ-16A Surface-to-air missiles 20170919](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/HQ-16A_Surface-to-air_missiles_20170919.jpg)
* – Raad Air Defense System, Ra'ad (Thunder) Medium Ranged Surface-to-Air Missile System using Ta'er 2 missiles. It has very similar layout to wheeled Buk-M2EK 9M317. It was shown during 2012 military parade.
* – Soviet copies of M1 variants, designed by Artem Luch Arsenal (Kyiv) KBs and built in KhAZ (Kharkiv) and Yuzhmash (Dnepr) plants, planned Dnipro (surface-to-air missile), ''Dnipro'' SAM system (between Buk and S300P type).
HQ-16
The HQ-16 is a medium range
semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing (SARH) is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer-range Air-to-air missile, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is ...
surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...
developed by the People's Republic of China.
Development of the HQ-16 began in 2005 as a joint development with Russian company Almaz-Antey, based on the older Buk-M1 and Buk-M2 Surface-to-air missile systems.
System composition
9K37 Buk
![BUK file1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/BUK_file1.jpg)
* Upper level CP (PBU of the zrbr – zenith-rocket brigade) from the structure of automatic control system, ASU Polyana-D4
** 4 × zrdn (zenith-rocket division)
*** CP 9S470
*** SOTs 9S18 Kupol range up to 120 km (45 km at a height 30 meters).
** 3 × zrbat (zenith-rocket battery)
*** 2 × TELAR 9А310
*** 1 × TEL 9А39
** Technical service division
** Сommunication service platoon
2K12M4 Kub-M4 (9K37-1 Buk-1)
* 1 × SURN 1S91M3 (from the structure of 2K12M3 2K12 Kub, Kub-M3)
* 4 × TEL 2P25M3 (from the structure of 2K12M3 Kub-M3)
* 1 × TELAR 9A38 (from the structure of 9K37 Buk)
9K37M1 Buk-M1 (Ganges)
Technical service division
* 9V95M1E – mobile automatized control and test station vehicle based on a ZIL-131 with a trailer
* 9V883, 9V884, 9V894 – repair and technical service vehicles based on Ural-43203-1012
* 9V881E – technical service workshop based on Ural-43203-1012
* 9T229 – transporter vehicle for 8 missiles or 6 containers with missiles based on a KrAZ-255, KrAZ-255Б
* 9T31M – autocrane
* MTO-ATG-M1 – technical service workshop based on ZIL-131
Preparing to fight (inversely) – 5 min. Translation in battle mode, not for the first time in battle (after moving to another place) – no more than 20 seconds.
During the exercise, "Defense 92" (1992) SAM family of "Buk" conducted successful firing at targets on the basis of ballistic missile R-17 Elbrus, and on the basis of MLRS rockets "Smerch" (caliber 0.3 meters).
9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 (Ural)
A command post vehicle 9S470M1-2 may take control over 4 batteries, each has 1 TELAR 9A310M1-2 with 1 × TEL 9A39M1/9A39M1-2 or 2 batteries, each has 1 target acquisition radar 9S18М1-1 and 2 × TELs 9A39M1
Additionally, the TELAR 9A310M1-2 may take control over the 2K12 Kub, Kub vehicles – just the TEL 2P25 or the self-propelled unit of reconnaissance and guidance 1S91 with a TEL 2P25. In this configuration complex can simultaneously fire two goals instead of one.
Probability of hitting of one rocket is:
* Statically flying aircraft, 0.7–0.9;
* Manoeuvring aircraft with overdrive to 7–8 G, 0.5–0.7;
* Tactical ballistic missiles, 0.5–0.7;
* Anti-radar missiles, 0.6–0.8;
* Cruise missiles, 0.6–0.8.
The composition:
* command post 9S470M1-2
* 6 self-propelled fire units 9A310M1-2 can perform all combat functions,
including identification of the state of the owner of the object detected.
* 3 launchers (can fire, transporting and loading of other launchers) installation 9A39M1,
* target detection station 9S18M1,
* machine of maintenance 9V881M1-2 with caravan ZIP 9T456,
* workshop of maintenance SPA-M1,
* machine of repair and maintenance.
The maximum range of fire against ballistic missiles is 20 km, and the maximum target speed is 1200 m/s.
Its capacity of protecting against ballistic missiles are comparable with that of the Patriot MIM-104 Patriot, PAC-2. However, the engagement ceiling is lower.
Preparing to fight (inversely) – 5 min.
Translation in battle mode, not for the first time in battle (after moving to another place) – no more than 20 seconds.
The range for engaging targets on land is 15 km, 25 km on the water.
The capture distance of targets with RCS = 5 m – 40 km.
It automatically provides a high resistance to interference and work in several different combat modes, detection range of the locator of early detection 160 km.
Technical service division
* Technical service vehicle MTO 9V881M1-2 with a trailer ZIP 9T456
* Technical service workshop MTO AGZ-M1
* Technical service and maintenance vehicles MRTO: MRTO-1 9V883M1, MRTO-2 9V884M1, MRTO-3 9V894M1
* Transport vehicle (TM) 9T243 with a technological equipment set KTO 9T3184
* Automated control and test mobile station AKIPS 9V95M1
* Workshop vehicle for the missile maintenance 9T458
* Unified compressor station UKS-400V
* Mobile power plant PES-100-T/400-AKP1
9K317 Buk-M2
There was an experimental 9А320 TEL (with 8 missiles).
Some works were performed to use a wheeled vehicles for Buk-M2-1 on a KrAZ-260 chassis, but they were not completed.
Developed in 1988. Accepted for service in 2008.
The structure of the Buk-M2
* Fighting means
** Anti-aircraft missiles: 9М317
** Self-propelled firing installation: 9А317 and 9А318 (towed), has everything for self-War, reaction time – 5 sec, range to 20 km (reflecting surface, 1–2 m
2; height 3 km), 18–20 km (rs 1–2 m
2, height 10–15 m), range of work in the system −5 to + 85 degrees for missile guidance (to search for up to 70 if alone)
** Installation of charging 9А317 and 9А318 or shooting teams 9С510: 9А316 and 9А320;
* Management tools
* Command post 9С510, reaction time 2 seconds.
** Radar of targets detection (all directions – 360°) 9С18М1–3, range to 160 km (1–2 m
2)
* Radar of illumination and guidance of missiles or radar of targets detection of range ±60° 9С36.
** 9S36-1 (if derrick is raised as much as possible) range to 120 km (reflecting surface 1–2 m
2, height 3 km), 30–35 km (rs 1–2 m
2, height 10–15 m)
Translation in battle mode for the first time in battle-not more than 5 minutes, but 10–15 minutes when using derrick in which the radar of 9S36-1. Translation in battle mode, not for the first time in battle (after moving to another place) – no more than 20 seconds.
The probability of hitting targets one missile is: (data from the developer and several other sources)
* Aircraft of tactical aviation, 0.9–0.95
* Tactical ballistic missiles, 0.6–0.7 maximum speed of ballistic targets 1200 m/s.
* Cruise missiles, 0.7–0.8
* Hovering helicopters, 0.3–0.4
* Helicopter, 0.7–0.8
* Anti-radiation missile, 0.5–0.7.
The minimum rs to 0.05 square meters. Day-and-night passive optical system for target detection, thermal imager with minimal radiation (9А317 and 9А318). The system operates in a mountainous area without glare.
The normal range of a ballistic missile to intercept with the use of Buk is up to 200 km.
Buk-M3
The 9K317M 'Buk-M3' (9K37M3) is the latest production version, based on new hardware.
It has 36 target channels and features advanced electronic components. Specifications include a maximum target speed of , an altitude range of and a distance range of . Extensive trials began in 2015,
with the first deliveries planned for 2016. (2 in 2016). The probability of hitting a target with one missile is: aircraft – 0.95; tactical ballistic missile – 0.7; cruise missile – 0.8. It offers increased efficiency against electronic countermeasures and manoeuvring targets. They are more compact, increasing the TELAR's carrying capacity to six missiles. The missile's new fragmentation (weaponry), HE-fragmentation warhead can more easily penetrate armor. The complex is highly mobile and designed against air, ground and sea targets (e.g. destroyers).
The missile reaches a speed of , and manoeuvres by air rudders and reactive rudders. The interval between shots is one second in any direction. Targeting is by commands or active homing, or in combination. Thermal radar works on any target at any time in any weather. Russian sources claim the system can destroy the MGM-140 ATACMS, though this has never been actually attempted.
Radar, guidance and target detection operates at a range of ±60° 9S36. A target at an altitude of 7–10 m can be detected at a distance of up to 35 km, targets like the AGM-158A "JASSM" at an altitude of 20 m, and RCS over 0.1 m at a distance of 17–18 km. The radar sees targets at an altitude of 5 meters and in practical shooting, the system demonstrated its ability to destroy anti-ship missiles flying at that altitude.
In June 2016 Almaz-Antey announced successful trials of the anti-aircraft complex. Firing at Kapustin Yar in the Astrakhan region was carried out at a ballistic target, which was made by the missile-target. The first brigade set of the "Buk-M3" was delivered in 2016. It is in active service.
A missile uses active guidance, the system has radio and thermal guidance (any weather, day / night), the missile uses guidance 1) on commands, 2) only active homing, 3) mixed. The missile uses a directional explosion, Minimum target height 5 meters.
In April 2018, Rosoboronexport announced that it would be promoting the Buk-M3 "''Viking''" version for export. The system can be integrated with the launchers of the Antey 2500 complex, increasing its range from 65 to 130 km. The "Viking" is reported to be able to operate both autonomously and in cooperation with other air defence systems, using their radar data for targeting, and have a gap of 20 seconds between stopping and launching missiles. The probability of intercept is reported to be close to 100%. The complex is also reported to be effective against tactical ballistic missiles.
Operators
Current operators
* 48 systems Buk-M2.
*
*
4 dvizion BUK-MB
*
[ ] – 12 complexes as of 2016.
![9K37 Buk of the Ukrainian military, Independence Day parade in Kiev](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/9K37_Buk_of_the_Ukrainian_military%2C_Independence_Day_parade_in_Kiev.JPG)
*
* – Buk-M1 and Buk-M2 versions
*
*
* – 1 Buk-M2E ordered in 2018 and delivered in 2021
*
*
*
* – Improved variant as the HQ-16, a navalized VLS system. Joint People's Republic of China/Russian project to upgrade the naval 9K37M1-2 system 'Shtil' (SA-N-12).
* – more than 440 9К37 and 9К317 as of 2016 (350 in land forces and 80 in air force). Replacement of complex 9К37 with the newer 9К317 Buk M2 is planned to be completed by 70% or more by 2020. 1 battalion of Buk-M3 was delivered in 2016. 66 Buk-M-1-2s, 36 M2s and 36 M3s were delivered in 2012–2017. As of December 2017 3 missile brigades are fully equipped with Buk-M3. 7 Buk-M3 brigade sets on order as of early 2020. (see List of equipment of the Russian Ground Forces)
*
[ ] 8 complexes 9К317E Buk-M2E delivered from Russia, Russian Federation in 2011 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – Arms Transfers Database) for Land Forces + 10/8 Buk-M2E for Air Defence. + 20 Buk-M1-2s.
* – 72 9K37M1 as of 2016. Modernisation of stored systems to Buk M1-2 standard planned.
* 12 Buk-M2E in service.
Former operators
* – In 1996 Finland started operating the missile systems that they received from Russia as debt payment. Due to concerns about susceptibility to electronic warfare, Finland has replaced the missile system with NASAMS 2.
Finland still does use this, mainly in storage. Still ready for wartime use and are all in "operational condition".
* - Passed on to successor states.
Potential operators
* : Russia offered the Buk-M2E to the Argentine Air Force.
Failed bids
*
*
*
*
*
*
Before 1990, 9K37M1E "Gang" launchers were supposed to enter the armies of the Warsaw Pact, but did not enter their armaments because they ceased to exist.
See also
*Tor missile system
*HISAR (surface to air missile system), HISAR
*Khordad 15 (air defense system), Khordad 15
References
Sources
What is a buk missile?at ''The Wall Street Journal''
V. Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design Website (Russian manufacturer of Buk)*
Yevgeny Pigin, Gennady Kaufman, Military Parade, 1998.
*
Buk SA-11 Gadfly. Prospects for Buk-M1-2 air defense missile systemat enemyforces.com
Russian sources
*
*
· [http://pvo.guns.ru/buk/buk_5.htm Closing article for Buk]
Photos of Buk-M1 in Finnish Armyat ''Vestnik PVO'' website
Video
BUK and other air missile system in teamwork 9 min.
External links
Main defense product rangeof Almaz-Antey
ROSOBORONEXPORT TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH PROSPECTIVE PARTNERS IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buk Missile System
Naval surface-to-air missiles
Surface-to-air missiles of Russia
Surface-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union
Almaz-Antey products
Military equipment introduced in the 1970s
fr:9K38 Buk-M1-2