Operators from Ukraine's 14th Separate UAV Regiment, working in coordination with other units, have located and destroyed russian 9S36M radar, a key component of the Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system. This radar is a relatively rare and modern element of russia's air defense capabilities.
The 9S36M system functions as the fire-control radar within the Buk-M3 unit, handling target tracking and missile guidance. Its loss reduces the effectiveness of the system, which is designed to engage aircraft, drones, and missiles at medium to long range.
Read more: $150,000 russian Orlan-30 Drone Destroyed by Cheap Ukrainian FPV
According to the report, Ukrainian forces first disabled the radar's mobility by destroying its chassis. This made the system more vulnerable to follow-up attacks and ensured it remained in place for targeted strikes.
Two FPV drones from the 14th UAV Regiment were then used to deliver shaped-charge warheads to the radar equipment. The use of cumulative warheads suggests the strike aimed to penetrate armored components and ensure damage to internal systems.
As a result, the radar module was fully disabled. Without this component, the Buk-M3 launcher cannot independently detect or track targets, significantly limiting its combat function in the field.
The Buk-M3 is among the newer missile systems in russian service, and its radar units are not widely deployed. The destruction of the 9S36M radar is therefore notable, both in terms of operational impact and equipment scarcity.
As Defense Express previously reported, operators from the 195th Support and Security Base of the State Special Transport Service of Ukraine have successfully shot down russian Orlan-30 reconnaissance drone using a relatively inexpensive FPV drone.
The Orlan-30 UAV represents one of the latest upgrades in russia's family of reconnaissance UAVs.
Read more: Precision Over Armor: Ukrainian FPV Drone Pilots Take Out russian T-72 Tank in the South
