Buk Missile System - Development

Development

Development of the 9K37 "Buk" was started on 17 January 1972 at the request of the Central Committee of the CPSU. The development team comprised many of the same institutions that had been responsible for the development of the previous 2K12 "Kub" (NATO reporting name "Gainful", SA-6). These included the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design (NIIP) as the lead designer and the Novator design bureau who were responsible for the development of the missile armament. In addition to the land based missile system a similar system was to be produced for the naval forces, the result being the 3S90 "Uragan" (Russian: "Ураган"; English: hurricane) which also carries the SA-N-7 and "Gadfly" designations.

The Buk missile system was designed to surpass the 2K12 Kub in all parameters and its designers including its chief designer Ardalion Rastov visited Egypt in 1971 to see Kub in operation. Both the Kub and Buk used self-propelled launchers developed by Ardalion Rastov. As a result of this visit the developers came to the conclusion that each Buk transporter erector launcher (TEL) should have its own fire control radar rather than being reliant on one central radar for the whole system as in Kub. The result of this move from TEL to transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) was a system able to engage multiple targets from multiple directions at the same time.

During development in 1974 it was identified that although the Buk missile system is the successor to the Kub missile system both systems could share some interoperability, the result of this decision was the 9K37-1 Buk-1 system. The advantage of interoperability between Buk TELAR and Kub TEL was an increase in the number of fire control channels and available missiles for each system as well as a faster service entry for Buk system components. The Buk-1 was adopted into service in 1978 following completion of state trials while the complete Buk missile system was accepted into service in 1980 after state trials took place between 1977 and 1979.

The naval variant of the 9K37 "Buk", the 3S-90 "Uragan" was developed by the Altair design bureau under the direction of chief designer G.N. Volgin. The 3S-90 used the same 9M38 missile as the 9K37 though the launcher and associated guidance radars were exchanged for naval variants. The system was tested between 1974-1976 using a project 61 large anti-submarine ship, 3S-90 being accepted into service in 1983 equipping the project 956 "sovremmeny" class of destroyers.

No sooner than the 9K37 "Buk" had started to enter service than the next phase of its development was put into operation, in 1979 the Central Committee of the CPSU authorised the development of a modernised 9K37 which would become the 9K37M1 Buk-M1, adopted into service in 1983. The modernisation improved the performance of the systems radars, kill probability and resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM). Additionally a non-cooperative threat classification system was installed, allowing targets to be classified without IFF via analysis of return radar signals. The export version of Buk-M1 missile system is known as "Gang" (Russian: "Ганг"; English: Ganges).

Another modification to the Buk missile system was started in 1992 with work carried out between 1994 and 1997 to produce the 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2, which was accepted into service in 1998. This modification introduced a new missile, the 9M317 which offered improved kinematic performance over the previous 9M38 which could still be used by the Buk-M1-2. Such sharing of the missile type caused a transition to a different GRAU designations - 9K317 which has been used independently for all later systems. The previous 9K37 series name was also preserved for the complex as was the "Buk" name. The new missile as well as a variety of other improvements allowed the system to intercept ballistic missiles and surface targets as well as offering improved performance and engagement envelope against more traditional targets like aircraft and helicopters. The 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 also received a new NATO reporting name distinguishing it from previous generations of the Buk system, this new reporting name was the SA-17 Grizzly. The export version of the 9K37M1-2 system is called "Ural" (Russian: "Урал")

The introduction of the 9K37M1-2 system for the land forces also marked the introduction of a new naval variant, the "Ezh" which carries the NATO reporting name SA-N-7B 'Grizzly' (9M317 missile) and was exported under the name "Shtil" and carries a NATO reporting name of SA-N-7C 'Gollum' (9M317E missile), according to Jane's catalogue. The 9K317 incorporates the 9M317 missile to replace the 9M38 used by the previous system. A further advancement of the system was unveiled as a concept at EURONAVAL 2004, a vertical launch variant of the 9M317, the 9M317ME, which is expected to be exported under the name 3S90E "Shtil-1". Jane's also reported that in the Russian forces it would have a name of 3S90M "Smerch" (Russian: "Смерч", English translation: 'tornado').

The Buk-M1-2 modernisation was based on a previous far more advanced developmental system referred to as the 9K317 "Buk-M2". This modernisation not only featured new missiles but also included a new third generation phased array fire control radar allowing engagement of up to four targets while tracking a further 24. A new radar system was also developed which carried a fire control radar on a 24 meter extending boom, improving performance against targets flying at low altitude. This new generation of Buk missile systems was stalled due to the poor economic conditions after the fall of the Soviet Union, however the system was recently presented as a static display at 2007 MAKS Airshow. The export version of the Buk-M2 missile system Buk-M2E is also known as Ural (Russian: Урал; English: Ural).

In October 2007, Russian General Nikolaï Frolov, commander of the Ground Forces' air defense, declared that the Russian Army would receive the brand-new Buk-M3 to replace the Buk-M1. He stipulated that the M3 would feature advanced electronic components and enter in service in 2009.