Russia’s Air Defense Forces officially have received the first batteries of new Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system.

The Buk-M3 (NATO reporting name: SA-17 Grizzly) is a newest Russian medium-range surface-to-air missile system is a modernized version of the Buk-M2 system. The Buk-M3 developed by the Russian Defense Company Almaz-Antey.

Development of the Buk M3 began back in 1990. Development process was plagued with delays. This new air defense system has already been tested by the Russian armed forces. It is scheduled for production. The Buk M3 could be adopted in 2015 or 2016. Russian military officials state, that first operational Buk M3 systems will be delivered to the Russian Army in 2016. It is planned that it will replace the older Buk M1 systems.

The Buk-M3 can also engage sea and land targets, due to its vertical launch capability. The Buk-M3 system boasts a new digital computer, high-speed data exchange system and a telethermal imaging target designator instead of the teleoptical trackers used in previous models.

The Buk-3M’s target-destruction probability has reached 0.9999 and its maximum destruction range has been increased by 25 kilometers and now stands at 70 kilometers.

According to the Defense Ministry, the two Buk-M2 batteries and one Buk-M3 battery have received by Russian Armed Forces during the single day of acceptance of military products.