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Buk + AIM-7

The Ukrainian army reportedly had 72 9K37M1 Buk-M1s as of 2016. US government confirmed 17 January 2023 they will supply RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles for Ukraine to use with her 9K37 Sa-11 Buk SAM systems. The combination of the American AIM-7 with the Buk has already taken place, which means that they can continue to work with Western means of delivery, AIM-7 are air-launched missiles that can destroy targets at a range of up to 70 km. The single-stage RIM-7 missile has a semi-active radar homing head. To defeat the target, it needs illumination from the radar – guidance, which is part of the anti-aircraft system.

The AIM-7 Sparrow is a radar-guided, air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warhead. It can attack high-performance aircraft and missiles from any direction, and can operate in all weather and at all altitudes. The AIM-7 Sparrow has a maximum range of 19 km and can shoot down targets at an altitude of 8 meters to 15 km. The AIM-7 Sparrow was first deployed in 1958, but the modern version, AIM-7M, has been in service since 1982. The AIM-7 Sparrow is being phased out in favor of the more advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM.

The Ukrainian defense industry was able to integrate the AIM-7 Sparrow with Buk air defense launchers. The AIM-7 Sparrow was designed to be launched from a fast-flying fighter already at altitude. The integration with the Ukrainian Buk system will share many of the same disadvantages of the original naval point-defense system, including limited range.

The program name "Big Safari" refers to a USAF program for modifying and jury rigging special purpose weapons from existing aircraft and systems. However, the Sea Sparrow is a inferior missile compared to a Buk, with less range and charge. But Ukraine had to get SAMs from somewhere.

The missile has the following dimensions: length – 3.7 m, diameter – 0.2 m, wingspan – 1 m. The operational weight of the RIM-7 is 231 kg, and the weight of the warhead is 40 kg. For comparison, the missile from the 9?38 Buk SAM has significantly larger dimensions: the length is 5.55 m, the diameter is 0.4 m, the operational weight is 685 kg.

The $300 million arms aid package to Ukraine from the United States, which was allocated on 31 May 2023, contained a mystery in addition to traditional ammunition for 105- and 155-mm artillery systems, as well as 105-mm tank missiles and missiles for HIMARS and Patriot. And of course, we are not talking about the new short-range Avenger SAMs, unspecified precision air munitions, most likely JDAM-ER, or Zuni air missiles, but AIM-7 missiles.

AIM-7 index directly refers to an air-launched missile. But before that, the United States had provided RIM-7 missiles, which are a version of the same missile, but for air defense systems. Most likely, they were integrated into the Buk system. Technically, AIM-7 and RIM-7 differ in the plumage, which is opened after the anti-aircraft missile leaves the container. In all other respects, the RIM-7 is identical to the AIM-7 air-launched missile in all major components.

This leaves two options: either the missile will be integrated into the Buk or another system, such as the Kub, or it will be integrated into the wing of Soviet aircraft, such as the MiG-29 and Su-27. However, it is extremely difficult to integrate AIM-7 and RIM-7 missiles into a Soviet air defense system and a Soviet fighter.

Although Ukraine is experienced in using Western aviation armaments on Soviet-type aircraft currently in service with the Ukrainian Air Force, such solutions are unlikely to be used for an AIM-7 missile. One of the arguments is that this missile must interact with the aircraft’s onboard electronics. But it is known that neither the MiG-29 nor the Su-27, which are currently in the core of Ukrainian fighter jets, are adapted to the use of Western air-to-air missiles.

And given the age of MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft that could potentially be carriers of AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, such upgrades do not make sense. Soon, these fighters will exhaust their service lives and will not be able to perform combat missions. These missiles use semi-active radar guidance. That is, the frequencies of the radar illumination and homing head must match. So far, the method of solving the technical problem remains a secret. It should be noted that the range of air targets for the AIM-7 missile during an air launch is 70 km, and for the RIM-7 ground launch – 26 km.

Ukraine can count on more than just the classic AIM-7. Back in January 2023, Politico reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would receive RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles from the United States. They are based on the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile. This semi-active radar homing missile is used to provide air and missile defense (enemy anti-ship missiles) to warships in the near zone. RIM-7 differs from the base version by the fins, which are revealed after the missile exits the launch container. At the same time, information appeared that, according to Politico sources, the Ukrainian defense industry was able to integrate these American missiles with the Soviet-era Buk self-propelled air defense system.

The transfer of air defense systems and anti-aircraft missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine is associated with a decrease in missile reserves for Soviet air defense systems. Before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, they formed the basis of Ukraine’s air defense. For more than a year of large-scale war with Russian invaders, Ukrainian air defense has repelled constant missile and air strikes by Russians and neutralized enemy drones of various purposes, which, in particular, also affect civilian infrastructure in peaceful Ukrainian cities. Therefore, the reserve of anti-aircraft missiles is decreasing, and it is almost impossible to replenish them because full-fledged production of missiles for Soviet air defense systems was established only on the territory of the Russian Federation.

At least two companies from Eastern Europe showed their versions of adapting the Soviet 2?12 Kub missile launcher to Sea Sparrow missiles or their variations. One of the versions was presented by the Polish Wojskowe Zaklady Uzbrojenia (WZU). This upgrade was presented in 2008. In this modification, the launcher was not significantly changed. The presented model was demonstrated with two Sea Sparrow missiles and one missile, which is considered the base for the Kub air defense system. The Czech company Retia unveiled an updated version of the Kub air defense system in 2011, incorporating three launch containers from the Aspide air defense system. Despite its introduction, this development did not attract any buyers.