Munitions

9M317E surface-to-air missile

Also known as
  • 9M317E
  • 9M317E missile
  • 9M317
  • Buk-M2E missile

The 9M317E is the export-market member of the Russian 9M317 Buk missile family, used as the primary ready-to-launch round for Buk-M2E firing vehicles. Public sources distinguish it from the older 9M38M1 legacy missile through Buk-M2E loadout and compatibility notes, and describe a solid-fuel, semi-active radar-homing missile in the 715 kg class with a 70 kg fragmentation warhead.

9M317E surface-to-air missile, Export medium-range surface-to-air missile, Munitions
Image source: File:9M317 surface-to-air missile of Buk-M2E.jpg
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Length
5.55 m
Launch mass
About 715 kg
Warhead
70 kg fragmentation warhead
Propulsion
Single-stage solid-fuel rocket motor
Guidance
Inertial and radio-corrected midcourse guidance with terminal semi-active radar homing
Range
3-45 km
Altitude
15-25 km
Speed
Up to 1,230 m/s
Launch platform
9A317E Buk-M2E TELAR with four ready-to-launch 9M317E missiles
Readiness
Ready to launch in 10-12 seconds
Launch Platforms

The 9M317E is documented as the missile carried by Buk-M2E firing units.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Buk-M2, Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseBuk-M2Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system

Army Recognition says the Buk-M2E 9A317E TELAR carries four ready-to-launch 9M317E missiles, while Rosoboronexport gives the export system's engagement envelope.

Sources: Buk-M2E - Army Recognition, Buk-M2E - Rosoboronexport

Why launcher context matters

Buk-M2E sightings do not always prove a 9M317E round because published references also describe backward compatibility with older 9M38M1 missiles.

Sources: Buk-M2E - Army Recognition

Missile And Launcher Context

The 9M317E is best read as an export missile component inside the Buk-M2E system. Public combat reporting often names the Buk launcher or system, so missile-level identification needs separate support.

TopicSourced detailReading note
Export designationAlmaz-Antey publishes the 9M317 family missile, and Buk-M2E references name the export launcher load as 9M317E.Read the export designation alongside the baseline 9M317 surface-to-air missile, Medium-range surface-to-air missile, Munitions9M317 family record.
Launcher loadoutThe 9A317E Buk-M2E TELAR is described with four ready-to-launch 9M317E missiles.The launch-platform relationship points to Buk-M2, Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseBuk-M2 for system-level context.
Guidance chainPublic 9M317 references describe inertial and radio-corrected flight with terminal semi-active radar homing, while Buk-M2E sources provide the system engagement envelope.Specifications separate missile guidance from system-level range and target figures where possible.
Legacy compatibilityBuk-M2E references also report compatibility with older 9M38M1 missiles used by earlier Buk systems.A Buk-M2E launcher identification alone is not proof that a 9M317E round was fired.

Sources: 9M317 - Almaz-Antey; Buk-M2E - Army Recognition; Buk-M2E - Rosoboronexport; 9M317 - Deagel.

Timeline

9M317E surface-to-air missile Key Events

  1. 9M317 family in reported service

    Deagel places the 9M317 family in service by 2003, giving the export 9M317E context inside the broader Buk-M2 missile family.

    Sources: 9M317 - Deagel

  2. Buk-M2E export system displayed

    Army Recognition describes the Buk-M2E export system as publicly shown at MAKS 2007; its 9A317E TELAR is identified with four ready-to-launch 9M317E missiles.

    Sources: Buk-M2E - Army Recognition

  3. Syrian Buk-M2E training launch photographed

    The Commons source for the primary image identifies a 9M317E launch from a Syrian Buk-M2E launcher during air-defense exercises, supporting the export round's open visual record without making a conflict-use claim.

    Sources: File:9M317 surface-to-air missile of Buk-M2E.jpg

Media

9M317E surface-to-air missile Images

9M317E surface-to-air missile, Export medium-range surface-to-air missile, Munitions - view 1
Source: File:Buk-m2 ky.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
9A317 TELAR, Tracked Buk-M2 transporter erector launcher and radar, Air DefenseAir Defense9A317 TELARTracked Buk-M2 transporter erector launcher and radarThe 9A317 TELAR is the tracked self-propelled firing vehicle for the 9K317 Buk-M2 medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Open technical and export-system references describe it as a GM-569-based launcher-radar vehicle with four ready 9M317-family missiles, onboard target detection and illumination, electro-optical backup channels in the 9A317E export version, and autonomous firing capability inside a wider Buk-M2 battery; Ukraine-war loss reporting ties Russian 9A317 TELARs to visually documented battlefield losses.
Buk-M2, Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseBuk-M2Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile systemThe Buk-M2 is a Russian tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system in the Buk family, using 9M317-family missiles and networked radar vehicles to defend maneuver forces and fixed sites against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision weapons, and some ballistic targets. Conflict records tie Buk-M2/Buk-M2E systems to Russian battlefield air defense in Ukraine, Syrian government air-defense engagements, the April 2018 Syria strike response, and Venezuelan air-defense losses during the 2026 United States-Venezuela Conflict.
9K37 Buk, Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir Defense9K37 BukTracked medium-range surface-to-air missile systemThe 9K37 Buk is the original Soviet tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system behind the SA-11 Gadfly family, built around mobile command, target-acquisition, TELAR, reload, and 9M38/9M38M1 missile elements. It remains relevant in conflict records because Buk-M1 systems appeared in Georgia's 2008 air-defense campaign and in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, including Ukraine's surviving Buk-M1 network and the evidence chain around the Russian Buk TELAR that launched the MH17 missile.
9M311 surface-to-air missile, Two-stage command-guided surface-to-air missile, MunitionsMunitions9M311 surface-to-air missileTwo-stage command-guided surface-to-air missileThe 9M311 is a Soviet two-stage, radio-command guided surface-to-air missile family developed for the Tunguska gun-missile air-defense system and adapted for naval Kortik/Kashtan installations. Sources describe a detachable booster, an unpowered missile stage guided by radio commands, and a continuous-rod warhead. Open reporting also documents Ukrainian Tunguska use with a 9M311-series missile firing during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources

9M317 - Almaz-AnteyPublisher: Almaz-Antey | Note: Official manufacturer page for the 9M317 family; supports the missile's technical data, manufacturer background, and Buk-M2E export-system context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Buk-M2E - Army RecognitionPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Identifies the Buk-M2E TELAR as carrying four ready-to-launch 9M317E missiles, describes the export system's missile loadout, and notes backward compatibility with older 9M38M1 missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Buk-M2E - RosoboronexportPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export-system page used for Buk-M2E engagement range, altitude, target set, and system-level context around the 9M317E missile. | Accessed: 2026-06-299M317 - DeagelPublisher: Deagel | Note: Summarizes 9M317 family service context, propulsion, speed, and mixed inertial, radio-corrected, and semi-active radar homing guidance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29APA 9K37 BukPublisher: Air Power Australia | Note: Supports DNPP attribution for the 9M317E Grizzly missile and comparative Buk-family missile context. | Accessed: 2026-07-11File:9M317 surface-to-air missile of Buk-M2E.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance, licensing, and caption context for the primary 9M317E Buk-M2E missile photograph. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:Buk-m2 ky.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing for a Buk-M2 launcher context image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29