Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

SA-11 (Gadfly) / 9K37 Buk

1979 COLD WAR MODERN

SA-11 (Gadfly) / 9K37 Buk History

The vast airspace over the Russian border and the climate of Cold War readiness required the Soviet Army to maintain a large number of mobile surface-to-air missile platforms. To extend the range, these systems were often sold to allies overseas or to satellite factions within the Soviet sphere of influencewith the aim of causing headaches for Western war planners, especially Americans. In 1970, the Soviet Army introduced the SA-6 "Gain" mobile anti-aircraft missile system to counter low-to-medium-speed threatsmainly low-flying aircraft and helicopters. However, as early as the early 1970s, it was considered to supplement existing systems with a more advanced type capable of countering all types of medium-altitude threats, including cruise missiles.

In 1972, the Soviet government commissioned such a system, which was designed to serve both land-based and sea-based installations - the former in basic track form, the latter only as a launch vehicle.

One of the major design shortcomings of the SA-6 Gainful series was the reliance on multiple transmitters for a single fire control radar. As such, the new missile system will have its own integrated fire control radar for increased tactical value.

The 9M38 "Buk" missile is designed to be mounted on a tracked chassis with six twin tire wheels on one side and a rear drive sprocket. The complete system will feature a 360-degree lateral launch platform (with powered lift) mounted with 4 x 9M38 rockets.

The new missile system was evaluated between 1977 and 1979, and only a limited number of examples entered service with the Soviet Army (designated "9K37-1 Buk-1") before the system officially entered service in 1980. The naval variant became the 3S-90 "Uragan", followed in 1983.

Recognition by Western NATO observers led to the designation of the SA-11 "Gadfly".

The complete system package was designed around the 9M38 rocket (later the 9M317 rocket) powered by a solid rocket motor. It has a range of up to 20 miles and defended airspace up to 46,000 feet. The missile relies on a semi-active radar homing guidance kit and is detonated by a radar-based proximity fuze that uses a high-explosive fragmentation warhead in the nose cone. Stabilizing fins were found along the sides of the missile.

The total weight of each rocket is 700 kg. The barrel length of each rocket is 5.55 meters. The advantage of such a system is that it can be launched from a variety of launch platforms, not just mobile land-based vehicles.

In this way, solid and marine variants can be developed from the basic design.

By 1983, the 9K37 series was modernized, which led to the development, acceptance and improvement of missiles with improved radar and further protection from enemy jamming signals designed to disrupt service. influences. The Soviet Army officially adopted this version in 1983, followed by an export brand. Another modernization effort introduced an improved missile type - the 9M317 - which was accepted in 1998, forcing NATO to create the completely new designation SA-17 "Grizzard" to differentiate the two main production types.

The Grizzly has the ability to track and intercept ballistic missiles in the air, improving range, accuracy and performance. The land-based variant also yielded an equivalent naval form. A new missile with enhanced capabilities was introduced in 2007. Vertical launchers were also developed.

The 9K37 weapon is thought to have shot down at least four Georgian drones in fighting between Russia and Georgia during the 2008 South Ossetia war. Instead, Georgia's 9K37 system shot down four Russian aircraft. During the conflict, the 9K37 performed very well.

Despite their origins in the 1970s, modern forms are still able to keep up with more modern aircraft and their respective countermeasures.

Both Belarus and China produced localized copies of the Soviet-Russian 9K37 anti-missile series. Both have been modernized in their own way to make them usable on the modern battlefield. Global operators that actually use the Soviet-Russian design include Belarus, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Georgia (via Ukraine), North Korea, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela.

Russia has about 250 in stock.