Russian Armed Forces personnel are equipping Buk medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) (NATO codification-SA-11 Gadfly) with additional protection against enemy FPV drones. The Defence blog portal showed photos of the modernized systems.
Steel shields around the radar unit and anti-drone nets have been installed on the air defense system. Similar designs were previously used on tanks and other armored vehicles.
Western analysts believe that equipping air defense systems with such protection"reduces its effectiveness, as it may affect radar operation and reduce mobility."
About the Buk air defense system
Buk is a mobile medium-range air defense system designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.
Characteristics of the Buk air defense system:
- Maximum speed of targets engaged - 800 m/s.
- Reaction time - 22 s.
- Flight speed of the anti-aircraft guided missile (SAM) - 850 m/s.
- SAM weight - 685 kg.
- Warhead weight - 70 kg.
- Air defense system deployment time - 5 minutes
Read more on the topic:
Defensa: Buk-M3 air defense system - the Russian response to "stealth aircraft"