Ukraine adapts Soviet-made Buk missile systems to fire US-made missiles

Ukraine's Soviet-made Buk-M1 missile systems have been adapted to fire American missiles, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said in an interview with Radio NV on November 11.

"There is an announcement from our Western partners (which we have already confirmed) that we have good results of Buk-M1 air defence missile systems combat use at a test range in the United States, which have been converted and adapted to American missiles, which can strengthen our air defences," Ihnat said, adding that the missiles for Buk-M1 and S-300 systems are produced only in Russia, The New Voice of Ukraine reports.

"We need to look for steps, ways, such as crossbreeding the Soviet and American. They [protect], albeit at a short radius."

Ukraine needs a large number of Buk systems, which are adapted to American missiles, as well as HAWK systems, which are mostly obsolete, but have been modernized and are already protecting the country.

Kyiv will eventually have to replace all Soviet air defence systems with new ones, Ihnat said in May.

Currently, Ukraine relies mainly on the Buk-M1 and S-300, as well as the S-125.