Russia’s Buk-M3 Air Defense System to Debut at Victory Day Parade

Russia will showcase its newest multi-missile medium-range air defense missile system (ADMS), Buk-M3 Viking, for the first time at the annual Victory Day on May 9.

“Four Buk-M3 air defense systems and four Tor-M2 air defense systems will take part in the Victory Day parade,” Russian defense ministry said in a statement Monday.

“The Buk-M3 offers protection against aerial threats in conditions of radio-electronic countermeasures and firing,” Rosoboronexport’s Deputy Director General Sergey Ladygin had said in February 2019.

The export version of Buk-M3 was unveiled for the first time during DefExpo 2020 event held in India’s Lucknow city last month.

Viking is the next step in the development of the Buk ADMS line. In comparison with Buk-M2E, its range of fire has increased nearly by 1.5 times – up to 65 kilometers. Besides, the number of simultaneously engaged targets has also increased by 1.5 times, and the number of ready-for-launch air defence guided missiles in one firing position made of two combat units has grown up from 8 to 18.

The anti-aircraft system has a capability of integrating launchers from Antei-2500 ADMS, which provides for the capability of target engagement at a distance up to 130 kilometers and boosts the efficiency of the whole AD grouping. The combat control station of Viking can be integrated with the radars of non-Russian origin. Besides, Viking envisages a capability of the autonomous use of the firing sections, which enlarges the total defended area and increases the number of covered sites.

According to Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant (part of Almaz-Antey concern), the producer of Viking ADMS, released data, Viking is capable of shooting down tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, strategic and tactical aviation aircraft, high-precision guided weapons, stealth aircraft, ground and surface radar-detected targets, and attack helicopters.

Viking can simultaneous firing at up to 36 targets flying from any direction and is capable of circular shooting with responsibility sector of each fire channel up to 120º in azimuth and 85 º in elevation.

The ADMS has autonomous combat capability of operation at angle of depression up to 5 º and can be integrated into different air defense formations. It is all-weather, 24-hour operating mode missile defense system and is an effective protection from high-precision weapons. It has a slant range engagement zone of Viking ADMS has been increased half as much compared to that of Buk-M2E system.

Technical data:

• Max destruction range, km
• Stealth aircraft – up to 40
• Tactical ballistic missiles – up to 25
• Cruise missiles – up to 20
• Surface and ground radar-detected targets – up to 15
• Hovering helicopters – up to 12

Number of the simultaneously engaged targets:

• By the fire channel (FC-1 or FC-2) – up to 6
• By the ADMS with all of its 6 fire channels – up to 36

Number of missiles:

• 9A317ME SPFU launcher unit – 6
• 9A316ME launcher unit – 12

Reaction time: 10 – 12 seconds

SAM mass, kg:

• In transporter-launcher container – 795 kg
• Without TLC – 600 kg

Combat assets:

• Command post 9C510ME
• Target detection radar
• Launcher unit
• Illumination and guidance radar 9C36ME
• Self-propelled firing unit 9A317ME
• Surface-to-air missile 9M317ME