The Ukrainian military has received modernized Buk-M1 anti-aircraft systems equipped with RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles. This integration represents a significant advancement in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, combining Soviet-era launchers with U.S. missiles in a hybrid system referred to as “FrankenSAM.”
The East Air Command posted photos of these upgraded systems on their Facebook page, showcasing the 9A310M1 self-propelled launcher and the 9A39 launcher of the Buk-M1 system. These images highlight the camouflage netting used to conceal the modified launch containers. The “FrankenSAM” project, gaining traction since October 2023, has focused on adapting Buk launchers to fire U.S. radar-guided and heat-seeking missiles, leveraging Western technology to enhance existing infrastructure. This approach follows successful integration trials in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Anti-aircraft missile complex “Buk-Sea Sparrow” or “FrankenSAM”, official photos from the Air Command “Skhid” (“East”).
The Buk-M1 9A310M complex was adapted by American and Ukrainian specialists for Western RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles. pic.twitter.com/MjZsaeR7O6
— The Russian Invasion of Ukraine (@wogoa1) May 30, 2024
The modernization effort, a collaboration between Ukrainian and American engineers, has been ongoing since last November. The newly revealed photos show the launchers’ original structure, with minimal visible changes aside from the integration of RIM-7 missiles. The upgraded systems were tested successfully in the U.S. and have since demonstrated their effectiveness in Ukraine, including downing several drones.
Despite the reduced range of the RIM-7 missiles compared to the original 9M38s, the FrankenSAM systems provide crucial defensive capabilities, particularly for protecting critical infrastructure. The integration project maximizes Ukraine’s use of available resources amid ongoing conflict
Expanded Coverage:
