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Soviet-Era Buk-M1 Reborn With New Missiles as Ukraine Moves to Upgrade S-300
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine has begun upgrading parts of its Soviet-era air defense arsenal, with the Buk-M1 system already receiving new capabilities and the S-300 next in line for modernization.
According to Deputy Minister of Defense Brigadier General Anatolii Klochko, Ukraine has successfully reconfigured the Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system to carry different missiles and resume active combat operations.
“The Buk system has been given a second life,” he stated during an interview on the Ministry of Defense’s official YouTube channel on June 14.
He also noted that work is ongoing to modernize the S-300 system. While most of the efforts remain at the planning stage, Klochko suggested that tangible results could be expected in the second half of 2025. “We are not standing still,” he added. “We will share more once there is a practical outcome.”
The Buk-M1, a self-propelled medium-range air defense system designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters, and missiles, is one of several platforms Ukraine inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As previously reported, Ukrainian engineers have modified the Buk launchers to fire American-made AIM-7 and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.
The adaptation is part of a broader program involving hybrid systems known as FrankenSAM, developed in cooperation with the United States. Ukraine reportedly has 60 Buk-M1 launchers that lacked compatible missiles prior to the upgrades.
The S-300 system, also of Soviet origin, remains a key element of Ukraine’s air defense. Depending on the variant, it can engage targets at distances ranging from 150 to 300 kilometers. Ukrainian defense officials have not disclosed full technical details of the planned upgrades but have confirmed that one of the main goals is to extend missile range and improve overall performance.
Klochko also stated that Ukraine’s domestic defense industry, including modernization projects for older systems, currently covers about one-third of the Armed Forces' needs. He emphasized that ongoing work is focused on enhancing the quality and effectiveness of Ukrainian weaponry.
The modernization of these systems forms part of a broader effort to increase Ukraine’s air defense capabilities amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Lviv Air Defense Brigade used the newly received German IRIS-T system to shoot down seven Russian cruise missiles in a single engagement—surpassing their previous record set with the Soviet-era S-300.
