Belarus strengthens national air defense production with new Buk-MB2K missile system.

At the MILEX 2025 international defense exhibition held in Minsk from May 21 to 24, the Belarusian defense enterprise OKB TSP publicly presented the Buk-MB2K surface-to-air missile system, integrated with the newly developed 9M318 guided missile. This marked the first official presentation of the complete system following its earlier appearance in prototype form at the ADEX 2022 defense exhibition in Azerbaijan and the final series of live-fire trials held in December 2024 near the Ukrainian border. The Buk-MB2K is now formally in service with the Belarusian Armed Forces, aligning with Belarus’s stated objective of achieving self-sufficiency in key air defense capabilities.
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Belarus' parallel development of systems such as the Buk-MB2K and the 9M318 missile does not reflect a decoupling, but rather a hedging strategy intended to ensure domestic continuity in areas where Russian production has ceased. (Picture source: Telegram/Vodogray)

Missile production in Belarus has seen a gradual but strategic expansion over the past decade, aiming to reduce reliance on legacy Soviet inventories and external suppliers, while also fulfilling commitments to Russia and expanding industrial cooperation with China. The country currently produces two known categories of missiles: the 9M318 for the Buk-MB2 and MB3 air defense systems, and rockets for the Polonez multiple launch rocket system, for which production is planned but not yet confirmed to have entered full series output. Belarus is also participating in industrial partnerships that could involve the production of missile components for Russian Iskander or S-300/S-400 systems, although specific volumes or contractual details have not been officially disclosed. Following a path similar to that taken by China several decades ago, Belarus aims to strengthen its industrial sovereignty by gradually developing the capacity to internalize more phases of the missile manufacturing process. A representative from BELPOL estimates that by 2027 or 2028, Belarusian enterprises could be capable of producing up to 300,000 missiles of all types annually.

The Buk-MB2K is a mobile, medium-range air defense system intended for the interception of multiple types of airborne targets, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters in hover mode, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, anti-ship missiles, and air-launched guided munitions. It is also capable of engaging surface and radio-contrast ground targets. The system is designed to function under conditions of sustained electronic jamming and high-threat airspace saturation. It is mounted on a wheeled platform powered by a 500-horsepower diesel engine, providing a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour and an operational range of 700 kilometers. The phased array radar developed in Belarus allows for the detection of fighter-sized targets at distances of up to 130 kilometers and tracking at 110 kilometers when the target is flying at an altitude of 3,000 meters. In lower-altitude conditions, hovering helicopters at 30 meters can be detected from 8 kilometers. The optoelectronic target acquisition system can passively identify head-on targets up to 40 kilometers away, which is a critical feature for emission-free operations in environments with electronic countermeasures.

The system’s engagement envelope spans from 3 to 70 kilometers in range and from 15 meters to 25,000 meters in altitude, allowing it to cover a wide spectrum of conventional and low-observable threats. The command post and launcher units can be interconnected using cable or radio links up to 10 kilometers, or optical fiber lines extending up to 120 kilometers. Each launcher vehicle carries four 9M318 missiles and is capable of achieving full combat readiness within five minutes, reducing vulnerability during rapid repositioning or in response to time-sensitive aerial threats. The system retains interoperability with earlier Buk variants but includes modernized software interfaces and digital subsystems that enable integration into broader air defense networks. The Buk-MB2K is developed as a fully Belarusian system, incorporating both radar and tracking elements manufactured within the national industry, and is offered as an upgrade pathway for states operating Soviet-era Buk platforms without access to newer Russian systems.

The development of the 9M318, a surface-to-air missile specifically designed for the Buk-MB2 and Buk-MB3 systems, began in the 2010s, following the cessation of Russian deliveries of the 9M38 missile. The 9M318 weighs 815 kilograms and can engage aircraft, helicopters in hover mode, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, air-launched munitions, and surface targets. Its active radar seeker allows the missile to track and home in on targets autonomously during the terminal phase. The seeker design enables the launch platform to release the target engagement channel immediately after firing, allowing the radar to lock on to subsequent threats and improving overall fire distribution efficiency. The missile can intercept targets flying at speeds up to 1,350 meters per second and withstand maneuver loads of up to 25g. Its maximum engagement range is 70 kilometers, with a minimum range of 3 kilometers, and it can strike targets at altitudes between 15 meters and 25,000 meters. The missile’s flight profile includes a three-phase trajectory: initial boost, mid-course guidance with datalink corrections, and terminal homing through its active radar seeker. While the airframe, seeker, and guidance software are developed in Belarus, the solid-fuel rocket motor and certain subsystems are produced by China.

However, Belarus continues to maintain close ties with Russia, particularly in areas such as training, logistics, and large-scale systems integration. In parallel with deploying new systems like the Buk-MB2K, Belarus currently hosts Russian S-400 air defense systems and Iskander missile launchers on its territory and is reportedly preparing for the deployment of Russian-made Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The two countries have also conducted joint exercises involving live-fire operations from Tochka-U and other systems at shared training grounds near the Ukrainian border. Furthermore, Belarus has permitted the stationing of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on its soil, deepening military integration. While Belarus has emphasized its ambition to build domestic missile manufacturing capabilities, it continues to rely on Russian support for advanced strategic systems and airspace surveillance infrastructure. The parallel development of independent systems such as the Buk-MB2K and the 9M318 missile does not reflect a decoupling, but rather a hedging strategy intended to ensure domestic continuity in areas where Russian production has ceased or where political restrictions may limit access. The relationship remains asymmetric, with Russia providing both nuclear and conventional military guarantees, while Belarus contributes logistical and strategic depth along NATO’s eastern flank.