HIMARS hits Buk-M3 air defense system in Kursk oblast

24 September, 2024 Hitting Buk-M3 SAM in the Kursk region. Freeze frame from video 413th Battalion The 413th Separate Unmanned Systems Battalion, together with the 78th Airborne Assault Regiment "Herts," has targeted a Russian Buk-M3 in the Kursk region with HIMARS.

The 413th Battalion reported this in its Telegram channel. "KURSK. We are clearing the sky of parasites.

Buk M3 SAM," the 413th Battalion said. The released video shows that the drone crew discovered two vehicles from the Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system - a 9A316M TEL and a 9A317M TELAR.

One peculiarity of the Buk-M3 system is that it has two types of launchers: a TELAR equipped with detection and targeting radar and six missiles and a TEL that does not have its own radar but has dual ammunition. The video shows the launcher launching at an air target while the SAM tries to leave the position but is almost directly hit by a GMLRS rocket. Unfortunately, the quality of the video does not allow us to determine whether the self-propelled vehicle was hit or destroyed.

EjShahid identified the hit as occurring southeast of Rylsk, in the Kursk oblast.

The location of the Buk-M3 air defense system in the Kursk oblast. Photo credits: EjShahid

It should also be noted that the Buk-M3 is the most modern version of this SAM. It uses missiles with active radar homing, which has significantly increased its effectiveness on the battlefield and performs not only air defense, but also missile defense.

On September 21, 2024, a video was released showing the SSU officers conducting an operation to destroy the Russian Buk-M3 SAM. During one of the combat missions, the SSU officers discovered an enemy anti-aircraft missile system in a firing position. After that, the special forces deployed the Switchblade 600 loitering munition, successfully destroying the Russian system.

And on August 30, 2024, a photo of another destroyed Buk-M3 in the Kherson region was released.

The TEL of the Russian Buk air defense system destroyed in the Kherson region.

August 2024.

Photo: t.me/lost_warinua

The photo shows that before the destruction, the Russian installation was in a shelter, but it did not save it, as it was completely burned down and cannot be restored.