Moscow’s BUK-M3 Viking Missile Defense System Claims Ability to Counter F-35s, Cruise Missiles, and Hypersonic Threats

In a decisive and strategic announcement highlighting its advanced air defense capabilities, Russia‘s state arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, has claimed that its BUK-M3 Viking system—known as SA-27 Gullum by NATO—can effectively counter some of the most sophisticated aerial threats present in contemporary warfare, including fifth-generation stealth aircraft like the American F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor.

This latest version of the established BUK air defense series has been designed as a versatile, medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, providing strong protection against a variety of airborne threats, including cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, precision-guided munitions, helicopters, and low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

With a maximum engagement range of 65 kilometers and a vertical kill capability extending up to 25 kilometers in altitude, the Viking offers layered and mobile air defense for both fixed installations and agile battlefield units operating in high-risk environments.

A key aspect of its battlefield functionality is the system’s proficiency in intercepting short-range tactical ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 50 kilometers, serving as a crucial defense for forward-deployed units and vital strategic assets facing the risk of rapid strikes.

Its ability to target objects flying as low as 10 meters—such as terrain-hugging cruise missiles or drones—illustrates its effectiveness in addressing low-profile, high-speed threats while maintaining the necessary altitude range to engage high-flying reconnaissance platforms and strategic bombers.

Developed by the Russian aerospace and defense giant Almaz-Antey, the BUK-M3 Viking signifies the most advanced iteration of the BUK family, incorporating substantial improvements in radar technology, command-and-control systems, and missile effectiveness.

The export-oriented “Viking” variant utilizes combat-tested technologies that have been in service with Russian forces since 2016, while also incorporating upgraded electronics, improved target acquisition systems, and a new generation of missiles designed to resist jamming and electronic countermeasures. This development highlights the increasing significance of electromagnetic spectrum control in contemporary warfare.

Central to this system is the 9A317M transporter-erector-launcher-and-radar (TELAR), which is equipped to carry six ready-to-launch 9M317M missiles. These missiles utilize Active Radar Homing guidance, enabling precise mid-course adjustments and terminal accuracy, even in challenging combat scenarios.

The Viking is further enhanced by sophisticated fire-control algorithms and thermal imaging target acquisition systems, allowing it to effectively track, lock onto, and neutralize multiple high-speed threats in environments with low visibility, clutter, or electronic interference.

As reported by Rosoboronexport, the BUK-M3 Viking can simultaneously detect, track, and engage up to 36 airborne targets across various trajectories, including those operating over land and sea. This capability reinforces its role as a versatile multi-domain defense asset.

Designed for seamless integration within comprehensive layered air defense networks, the Viking is fully compatible with other Almaz-Antey systems, such as the long-range Antey-2500. This interoperability enables operators to create a cohesive and adaptable anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) framework tailored to their national defense requirements.

India, with its established military-technical partnership with Russia, contributes significant operational expertise to the BUK ecosystem. The country has integrated the navalized Shtil-1 variant into its frontline warships, enhancing its layered maritime air defense capabilities.

The BUK-M3 Viking stands out in the global arms market due to its combination of extended range, altitude versatility, multi-target engagement, and battlefield mobility, making it one of the most adaptable and powerful mid-tier air defense systems available today.

Its proficiency in targeting both high-speed, low-altitude threats like sea-skimming missiles and UAVs, as well as high-altitude, slow-moving dangers such as reconnaissance aircraft, renders it an essential asset for nations aiming for comprehensive defensive coverage in increasingly contested airspaces.

Since its official introduction into the Russian Armed Forces in 2016, the BUK-M3 has proven to be consistently reliable in operations, and its modular design continues to draw interest from international clients looking for scalable and advanced air defense solutions.

As modern warfare increasingly involves saturation attacks that combine manned and unmanned threats, the BUK-M3 Viking’s ability to execute rapid, simultaneous, and accurate interceptions reinforces its strategic importance in the changing landscape of multi-domain warfare.

BUK-M3 “Viking” – Technical Overview

Designation:

BUK-M3 “Viking” (Export Version)
NATO Reporting Name: SA-27 “Gullum”
Developer:
Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation (Russia)

System Classification:

Medium-range, mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system
Capable of engaging multiple targets in all weather conditions
Missile: 9M317M
Missile Type: Active Radar Homing Surface-to-Air Missile
Dimensions: Length – Approximately 5.2 meters, Diameter – 0.36 meters
Weight: Approximately 710 kg
Warhead: High-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) with proximity fuse
Guidance Mechanism: Active radar homing with inertial mid-course correction
Engagement Range (Aerodynamic Targets): Up to 65 km
Engagement Range (Tactical Ballistic Missiles): Up to 50 km
Engagement Altitude: 10 m to 25 km
Speed: Exceeds Mach 4
Launcher Platform: 9A317M TELAR

Missile Capacity: 6 ready-to-fire 9M317M missiles
Radar System: Phased-array radar integrated into the TELAR
Target Engagement Capability: Up to 36 targets simultaneously (system-level)
Target Tracking Range: Up to 160 km
Response Time: 10 seconds (from detection to launch)

Key Features:

Ability to engage fifth-generation stealth aircraft (e.g., F-35, F-22)
Interception of cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, UAVs, and both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft
Capability to counter tactical ballistic missiles
Resilient against jamming and electronic countermeasures
Operational in all weather conditions, day and night
High mobility and quick redeployment capabilities

System Configuration (Standard Battery)

TELAR Units (9A317M): Maximum of 6 units per battery
Transporter-Loader Vehicles (TLVs): Facilitate quick reloading
Command Post Vehicle: Manages engagement information and target prioritization
Target Acquisition Radar (TAR): Provides sector or panoramic monitoring

Integration & Interoperability

Works seamlessly with the S-300/400 and Antey-2500 systems
Can be integrated into layered Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS)
Suitable for deployment in both national air defense and battlefield protection scenarios