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Modernized Buk-M1 Under FrankenSAM: A Game-Changer for Ukraine’s Air Defense
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine’s Air Force provided new details on the combat effectiveness of its upgraded Buk-M1 air defense system, modernized under the FrankenSAM program, which integrates Western missiles into Soviet-era launchers. The system is actively taking down enemy aerial threats on the eastern front, the Air Force Command reported on March 18.
For the first time, Ukraine’s military has shared operational experiences using the upgraded Buk-M1 equipped with American RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles. While the modification was first revealed in 2024, reports of this adaptation date back to 2023.
These systems are primarily deployed to counter enemy drones and missile strikes, though their operators admit they would welcome the chance to target Russian fighter jets.
“We’d love for an enemy Sukhoi to stray into our range,” one of the crew of FrankenSAM said.
However, the task of downing a Russian aircraft with this system remains difficult as the system’s engagement range has been reduced. The RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles—originally designed for naval use—have a maximum range of 20 km, compared to 30 km for the Soviet 9M38 missiles.
Despite this, the availability of Western missiles is a major advantage.
Ukraine’s stocks of 9M38 missiles are nearly depleted, and since Russia is the sole producer, resupply is impossible. Meanwhile, the RIM-7 is widely used by NATO allies and remains in production by Raytheon in the United States.
On the eastern front, 22-year-old Senior Lieutenant Stanislav, known to his crew as “Chef,” commands his FrankenSAM, which is based on Buk-M1.
He stated that Buk air defense units remain a top target for Russian forces, as their presence keeps Russian aircraft at bay.
“When they know there’s a Buk in the area, their planes don’t come near,” Stanislav explains.
While his crew is eager to take down a Russian fighter jet, they are constantly busy intercepting waves of enemy drones and missiles.
“The number of enemy UAVs is overwhelming,” he says.
“And the sad truth is—we don’t have enough air defense systems to cover all the critical infrastructure. We need ten times more.”
Earlier, Ukraine upgraded the “Osa” surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs) for Ukraine’s Defense Forces, investing over 14 million hryvnias (approximately $378,000) as part of the HORNET project to bolster air defense capabilities.
The modernization enables the use of not only standard 9M33M3 surface-to-air missiles, which are in short supply but also R-73 air-to-air missiles, which Ukraine has in ample stock.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")