All Ukrainian 9K33 Osa short-range tactical surface-to-air missile systems in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been modernized and can use the R-73 additional missile.
This was reported by the Ukrainian foundation Come Back Alive, which, as part of the Hornet project, "modernized SAM missile system for the first time in the history of charity."
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The work on modernizing these SAM system lasted quite a while. The first official demonstration of the Osa system with new missiles was in June 2024. This is a very important modernization, as it helps solve the problem of the shortage of regular 9M33 missiles.
The fund, which raised more than UAH 14 million (approximately $340,000), modernized one system. As part of the upgrade involving the integration of a new missile into the SAM system, this is more than just an efficient and pragmatic expenditure.
This means that the total cost to modernize Ukraine's Osa SAM systems could have been around $22 million, based on the Military Balance's estimate that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had 65 such systems in service as of 2023. Even when including the costs of developing the modernization, this is still not a large amount compared to current weapon prices.
In particular, an important issue is the change in the capabilities of the Osa SAM system with the integration of the R-73 missile. It is worth noting that this is an air-to-air missile, which, depending on the variant, has a range of 20-40 km when launched from an aircraft. At the same time, the launch range from the ground will be much shorter. In particular, for the Yugoslav Pracka RL-4 system, which also used the P-73 missiles, the declared range was up to 12 km.
This is 2-3 kilometers further than the capabilities of the standard 9M33 missile, which has a more powerful warhead—15 kg versus 8 kg. However, this difference is unlikely to significantly affect the Osa system’s effectiveness in the current environment against drones and cruise missiles, unlike the issue of how many missiles the system can fire simultaneously.
The standard 9M33 missile has command guidance, while the Osa system can "guide" only two missiles at a time. At the same time, the R-73 has infrared homing, allowing it to be aimed at another target immediately after launch.
Earlier Defense Express reported that Ukrainian Krab howitzer crew had scored a record-breaking hit on russian positions at 70-km distance.
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