Missile 9K37 (SA-11 Gadfly)

Development of the 9K37 began in January 1972 as a successor to the 2K12 Kub. The system was designed to provide each transporter erector launcher with its own fire control radar, creating a transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) configuration capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously. An interim version, the 9K37-1 Buk-1, entered service in 1978 to allow interoperability with existing hardware. The complete 9K37 system was accepted into service in 1980. Subsequent modernizations include the 9K37M1 in 1983, the 9K37M1-2 in 1998, and the 9K317 Buk-M2, which was accepted in 2008. The 9K317M Buk-M3 entered active service in 2016. A naval variant, the 3S90 Uragan, was officially adopted in 1983.

The 9K37 is a self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept cruise missiles, smart bombs, rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Later variants are capable of engaging tactical ballistic missiles and surface targets. A standard battalion consists of a command vehicle, a target acquisition radar vehicle, six TELARs, and three transporter erector launchers (TEL). The TELAR turret contains a fire control radar and a launcher with four ready-to-fire missiles. Guidance is primarily semi-active radar homing, though newer missiles utilize active radar homing or mixed guidance modes. Passive tracking is supported via optical systems with thermal cameras and laser rangefinders. Warheads are high-explosive fragmentation types equipped with radar proximity fuses. The 9M38M1 warhead utilizes approximately 8,000 shrapnel elements. The system is typically mounted on tracked chassis, though wheeled variants are utilized for export.

The system is widely deployed. Current operators include Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, China, Russia, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Finland formerly operated the system but placed its units into storage. The 9K37 has seen combat use in several conflicts. During the 2008 South Ossetia War, Georgian batteries downed several Russian aircraft, including a Tu-22M strategic bomber. In 2014, a 9K37 was used to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine. The system has been used by both Russian and Ukrainian forces during the conflict beginning in 2022, with Ukraine adapting launchers to fire Sea Sparrow missiles. In Syria, the system has been employed to intercept cruise missiles and guided munitions. In early 2026, a Venezuelan Buk-M2E was destroyed during a United States intervention.

🇦🇲 Armenia • 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan • 🇧🇾 Belarus • 🇨🇳 China • 🇨🇾 Cyprus • 🇩🇿 Algeria • 🇪🇬 Egypt • 🇫🇮 Finland • 🇬🇪 Georgia • 🇮🇳 India • 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan • 🇵🇰 Pakistan • 🇰🇵 North Korea • 🇷🇺 Russia • 🇸🇾 Syria • 🇺🇦 Ukraine • 🇻🇪 Venezuela