Belarus tests anti-aircraft missile for domestic air defense system

The Belarusian defense industry has completed testing of the 9M318 anti-aircraft missile developed for the Buk-MB2 air defense system. State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus reported on this. According to the Belaruski Gajun monitoring project, the missile was tested near the border with Ukraine, on the territory of the former 41st Aviation Training Ground, which has been used for bombing training since the 1960s.

The area is now covered by a new flight restriction zone that will remain in effect until December 20, 2024. All types of aircraft are prohibited from flying at altitudes of up to 20 kilometers. The missile is being developed by the TSP Research and Development Bureau; its first tests took place on February 27, 2020, and another test was conducted in March 2023. Representatives of the Belarusian defense industry note that the missile is made using composite materials, and its homing head is capable of detecting targets made using stealth technologies.

The 9M318 is designed to engage high-speed aerodynamic maneuvering targets, tactical ballistic, cruise, aircraft and anti-ship missiles, and helicopters. According to the developers, the missile can also operate in conditions of intense electronic warfare, as well as engage surface and radio-contrast ground targets. The claimed range of the missile is 70 kilometers at altitudes of 15 meters to 25 kilometers.

9M318 anti-aircraft missile.

Source: State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus

Buk-MB2

The Buk-MB2 air defense system, sometimes also referred to as Buk-MB3K, is the flagship project of the TSP Design Bureau, which can be called the Belarusian version of the Soviet-Russian Buk air defense system. The system is based on the Belarusian-made MZKT-692250 wheeled chassis with an 8x8 wheel configuration. A new radar with a phased array antenna, a new optoelectronic target detection and tracking system, which includes a laser rangefinder, a thermal imager and an optical target detection and tracking channel, were developed for the Belarusian SAM.

9A318K TELAR with 9M38MB missiles of the Buk-M3BK SAM on the MZKT-692250 chassis.

Photo credits: Miroslav Gyurosi

The optical locating system is known to be able to detect targets of the MiG-29 fighter type at distances of up to 40 kilometers, and using radar - up to 130 kilometers. The system's electronics can simultaneously detect and track up to 6 air targets. The SAM is to be equipped with domestically produced 9M318 and 9M38MB anti-aircraft missiles, which are actually modified clones of the Russian 9M317 and 9M38 air defense systems, respectively.

The 9M318 missile differs from the "basic" 9M317 mainly in the availability of an active radar homing head.