The Buk-M2E (NATO name SA-17 Grizzly) is a Russian made mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to defend field troops and logistical installations against air threats. SA-17 Grizzly is an upgraded version of the proven Buk-M1 mobile air defense system and retains its main features. It defeats strategic and tactical aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, air-launched missiles, guided aerial bombs and helicopters, including hovering rotorcraft, in the presence of heavy electronic countermeasures and under intense enemy fire. Moreover, it can be used against sea-surface and ground targets. The Buk-M2E SAM system includes combat elements, such as atarget-acquisition radar, a battle management station, self-propelled firing vehicles, an illumination and guidance radar, loader-launcher vehicles, surface-to-air guided missiles, as well as maintenance and repair facilities. The combat elements can be mounted either on tracked or wheeled chassis. Wheeled trucks carry the maintenance facilities. The Buk-M2 can engage a wide variety of targets from aircraft to missiles flying at an altitude of between 10 and 24,000 m out a maximum range of 50 km in given conditions. The SA-17 Grizzly can engage simultaneous of up to 24 targets flying from any direction.
Buk-M2E missile system development
Syria placed a contract worth $1bn for Buk-M2Es in 2007. The systems were also in service with the Venezuela and Azerbaijan.
An air defence missile brigade of the Russian Army conducted test firings of the missile system at the Kapustin Yar Missile Test Range in September 2010. The SAM successfully destroyed five targets with five missiles during the tests.
Features of Buk-M2E SAM system
The Buk-M2E missile system can perform multiple missions with greater mobility and can simultaneously engage a maximum of 24 targets.
The combat equipment of the ADMC can be deployed on high-speed self-propelled tracked chassis, which accommodates a crew of four. The advanced hardware / software technology of the anti-jam channels allows the combat equipment to provide reliable operation under barrage jamming conditions.
The missile system can execute missions independently and as part of an air-defence unit controlled by the Polyana-D4M1 automated control system (ACS) of anti-aircraft missile brigade. Guidance is provided by terminal semi-active radar homing guidance system, which consists of inertial mid-course and course correction radio data link.
Combat equipment of the Buk-M2E SAM system
The Buk-M2E missile system is equipped with a 9S510E command post, a 9S18M1E detection and target designation radar (TDR), and up to 12 9A316E loader-launcher units (LLUs).
The ADMC comprises up to six 9A317E transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) self-propelled fire units (SPFUs). The SPFU can be mounted with a 9S36E illumination and guidance radar (IGR) to simultaneously track and illuminate multiple targets flying at low and extremely low heights in all terrains. The mast-mounted antenna of the 9S36E radar can be raised to a height of 21m.
Buk-M2E missiles
Buk-M2E uses the new 9M317 missile. The SA-17 Grizzly may also launch the 9M38 and 9M38M1 missiles. The missile was developed as a joint weapon for Russian Army and Navy air defence systems and has an extended engagement envelope when compared to the original Buk-M1 9M38M1 missile. The Buk M2E / SA-17 Grizzly 9A317 TELAR is equipped with the new NIIP 9S36 passive phased array engagement radar, which provides the capability to concurrently track and illuminate multiple targets for the four 9M317 Grizzly SAM rounds. The unified multi-functional 9M317 and 9M317E missiles are developed in compliance with advanced tendencies and classic traditions in the development of the world missile construction industry. It is a high-precision guided weapon integrated in the Army and Navy air defense systems and it is intended to defeat modern as well as future aerodynamic, ballistic, surface and radio-contrast surface threats. The 9M317 and 9M317E missiles designed by the DRPE JSC have passed complete series of ground and flight trials in various weapon systems. The missiles successfully hit following types of targets at the testing stage: analogues of tactical ballistic missiles, strategic cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft of the army, tactical and strategic aviation, helicopters, surface and ground radio contrast targets. The 9M317 missile is used in the Army in air defense missile system BUK Ml-2 and the 9M317E missile is used in the Navy in air defense missile system Shtil-1. The missiles can be integrated in the newly-developed systems providing them with multifunctional ability.
Mobility and performance of the Buk-M2E missile system
The Buk-M2E missile system based on the GM-569 chassis can run at a speed of 65km/h on road and at 45km/h on dirt roads, and can travel for up to 500km without refuelling.
A single missile can destroy tactical aircraft and helicopters with a probability between 0.9 and 0.95, while the kill probability against tactical ballistic missiles ranges between 0.6 and 0.7. The missile can operate continuously for one day with refuelling and has a tear-down time of five minutes.
The missile can destroy tactical ballistic missile within the range of 20km and can kill cruise missiles at 100m altitude and within the range of 20km. It has maximum target g-load of 10g and can destroy aerodynamic targets with a maximum speed of 830m/s flying at an altitude between 0.015km and 25km, and within 3km to 45km range.
The missile system can operate in temperatures up to ± 50°C and wind speeds up to 30m/s. Its maximum operating altitude above sea level is 3,000m.
Specifications
Type
Medium range surface-to-air missile systems
Armament
Four missiles 9M317, 9M317E, 9M38 or 9M38M1
Country users
Russia
Head
50-70 kg HE fragmentation with radar proximity and contact fuzing system
Explosive load
180 kg
Crew
4
Weight missile
710 kg
Lenght missile
5,5 m
Range
2,500 - 50,000 m
Guidance system
terminal semi-active radar homing with inertial mid-course and course correction radio datalink updating
Radar
Phased-array radar
Dimensions
Length, 8 m; Width, 3,3 m; Height, 3,8 m