9M38

The 9M38 is a Soviet-era surface-to-air missile developed by the Almaz-Antey design bureau. It is the primary munition for the Buk missile system, a mobile, medium-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defense system. The 9M38 missile is designed to engage a variety of aerial targets, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. It utilizes a semi-active radar homing guidance system, meaning the target is illuminated by a ground-based radar, and the missile homes in on the reflected energy.

The missile itself is a two-stage design, with a solid-propellant booster for initial launch and a sustainer motor for sustained flight. It is equipped with a fragmentation warhead designed to detonate in proximity to the target, ensuring a high kill probability. The 9M38 has a reported range of approximately 30-35 kilometers and can engage targets at altitudes from 30 meters up to 18 kilometers. Numerous upgrades and variants of the 9M38 missile have been developed over its service life, improving its performance, range, and resistance to countermeasures. It has been exported to numerous countries and has seen combat use in various regional conflicts.