At the Indo Defense 2025 exhibition, Belarusian defense company E-System Solutions unveiled a model of its Buk-MB2K surface-to-air missile system. Recently adopted by the Belarusian Armed Forces, this system is now being marketed for export to Asian countries, and notably, it is claimed to be capable of engaging naval targets.
The Lukashenko regime appears serious about exporting the Buk-MB2K to Asian nations still relying on aging Soviet-era air defense systems. This ambition, however, raises an important question: where did Belarus acquire the technology behind the 9M318 missile, the core of the Buk-MB2K?
Read more: Belarusian Security Council Secretary Confirms Preparations to Host russia's Oreshnik Nuclear System
According to Army Recognition, the Buk-MB2K was showcased earlier this year at the MILEX 2025 exhibition in Minsk (May 21–24), following its initial debut three years ago at ADEX 2022 in Azerbaijan.
The system was officially adopted by the Belarusian Armed Forces after successful live-fire trials conducted in late 2024 at a testing range near the Ukrainian border. The Buk-MB2K includes a self-propelled firing unit (9A310MB2K) and a transporter-erector-launcher-loader (9A39MB2K), both adapted for the new 9M318 missile as well as legacy 9M38 and 9M317 missiles. The system also features the 9S470MB2K command post and the 9S150MB radar, which reportedly has a target detection range of up to 200 kilometers.
Belarusian developers claim these components can communicate via radio link over distances of up to 10 kilometers or via fiber-optic cable over distances of up to 120 kilometers.
A key point of interest is the newly developed 9M318 missile. Belarus claims to have created this missile to reduce dependence on russian missile supplies, which the kremlin has reportedly withheld. The result is a system that matches russian counterparts in terms of engagement range.
The 9M318 has a launch weight of 815 kilograms, an engagement range of 3 to 70 kilometers, and can hit targets at altitudes from 15 meters to 25 kilometers. For comparison, the russian Buk-M3 with the 9M317 missile also has a stated range of up to 70 kilometers, though it claims a higher engagement ceiling of up to 35 kilometers.
These capabilities raise further questions about the true origins of the technology behind the Buk-MB2K. Was it sourced from russia or China? And who exactly is backing Belarus's ambitious export plans for this air defense system in Asia?
Read more: belarus Modernizes Mobile S-125s For Cuba: A Deal Impossible Without Moscow
