The "Buk-M1" air defense missile system entered the Soviet Army’s service in 1980, according to the Military-Today. Referenced as SA-11 or Gadfly in Western handbooks, it was inherited by Ukrainian Air Forces.
Ukrainian air defense units have used them effectively so far. The recently revealed video by Air Command "West" of Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) shows how they managed to take down another unspecified target kilometers away:
Read more: Ukrainian Army Deploys Echeloned Air Defense System to Protect Kyiv
The "Buk" surface-to-air missile system fires 9M38 missiles with 70 kg of high-explosive fragmentation warhead. It can take down targets up to 40 km away from the launcher, at altitudes up to 25 km.
It has its own fire control radar called TELAR. It searches for targets, tracks them and guides missiles on them. By the way, this system does not always work out well, especially when it gets into the hands of russians. Lately, a missile fired by a russian "Buk" system turned 180° around and hit the ground in a way of a boomerang. Though we cannot identify whether or not this particular unlucky launcher had it own fire control or not.
Interesting detail: last year, the Ukrainian Air Force received a special simulator for "Buk-M1" to train air defense units shot down russian "Kalibr" and "Iskander" missiles, the corresponding trainings took place in September 2021. The option of targeting maneuverable cruise and ballistic missiles is not inherent to this missile system.
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile forces of Ukraine Yurii Andriychuk in an interview said the "Buk-M1" short-range missiles proved to be effective against both russian aviation and cruise missiles during the ongoing russian military invasion:
However, he noted, Ukraine has limited stocks of missiles and the launchers themselves. That’s why the Ukrainian army seeks a substitute such as NASAMS complex which, as we know to this date, is expected to come from the United States.
In the latest, 14th drawdown of military assistance, the US will provide two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).
Read more: How Do Russians ‘Outsmart’ Ukrainian Air Defense During Missile Attacks
