Ukraine modernizes Osa-AKM systems with R-73 surface-to-air missiles to reduce reliance on foreign supplies.

As reported by Vanguard on December 11, 2024, the Ukrainian Osa-AKM air defense system has been upgraded as part of the Hornet project initiated by the Return Alive foundation. This modernization replaces the original 9M33M3 surface-to-air missiles with R-73 air-to-air missiles, introducing "fire-and-forget" functionality. This capability allows operators to launch missiles and immediately reposition without needing to guide the missile to the target. This upgrade aims to reduce the risk of counterstrikes and address the operational challenges associated with the original missile design. All anti-aircraft missile regiments of Ukraine’s Land Forces equipped with the Osa system have received these upgraded systems.
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The upgrade includes the installation of APU-73 launch units and additional targeting equipment, which marginally extends the system’s operational range. (Picture source: Telegram/Vanguard)

The modernization project cost over 14 million hryvnias (approximately €319.206,58) and was financed through the foundation's general accounts without relying on public donations. The upgrade addresses the limited availability of 9M33M3 missiles, previously procured from suppliers in the Middle East and Africa. According to Oleksiy Dubinka, a military consultant for Return Alive, the modification allows the Osa-AKM to use Soviet-style missiles, such as the R-73, which are more accessible within Ukraine. Dubinka noted that while the Hornet project is similar to the Air Force's FrankenSAM initiative, it differs in its reliance on Soviet-era components rather than NATO-supplied missiles.

The upgrade includes the installation of APU-73 launch units and additional targeting equipment, which marginally extends the system’s operational range. The 1129th Air Defense Regiment demonstrated the upgraded configuration, confirming the integration of R-73 missiles alongside the original 9M33M3 missiles. During the demonstration, a 9M33M3 missile was launched, and visual evidence verified the system’s capability to utilize R-73 missiles. While the long-term effectiveness of this adaptation remains unassessed, it provides a short-term solution to missile shortages.

The R-73, NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer, is a Soviet-designed short-range air-to-air missile introduced in 1984. It was developed to replace the R-60 and features an infrared-guided, cryogenic-cooled seeker with a detection capability of up to 60° off-center. The missile has a minimum range of 300 meters and a maximum range of 30 kilometers. It has been deployed on aircraft such as the MiG-29, Su-27, and Su-35, as well as upgraded versions of the MiG-21 and MiG-23. The R-73 has been used in multiple conflicts, including the Eritrean-Ethiopian War and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where it has been employed against various targets, including drones. Variants like the R-74M offer expanded seeker angles and enhanced resistance to countermeasures. The missile's design has influenced competing systems such as the AIM-9X.

The R-73 has been used in multiple conflicts, including the Eritrean-Ethiopian War and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where it has been employed against various targets, including drones. (Picture source: Telegram/Vangaurd)

The R-73 has also been adapted for ground-based applications in other conflicts. During the Yemen Civil War, improvised systems paired the missile with FLIR targeting turrets, although these systems achieved limited effectiveness due to the missile’s propulsion design, which was optimized for air-to-air engagements. Ukrainian forces have similarly modified 9K33 Osa systems and unmanned platforms to use R-73 missiles. In 2024, a Sea Baby drone equipped with an R-73 missile fired at a Russian Mi-8 helicopter but failed to hit the target. These adaptations demonstrate attempts to expand the missile’s applications, despite constraints related to its original design.

The Hornet project is separate from the FrankenSAM initiative, which focuses on integrating Soviet-era systems with NATO missile technologies. FrankenSAM efforts include retrofitting Buk-M1 systems with RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles and adapting Soviet radars to work with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. A third FrankenSAM system under development combines Patriot missile components with Ukrainian radar systems. Testing of this system has shown it can destroy aerial targets, and it is expected to be operational by winter. Western allies have supported Ukraine's air defense efforts, contributing systems such as Patriot and IRIS-T as part of military aid totaling over $100 billion since February 2022.

The Osa-AKM (NATO designation SA-8 Gecko) is a Soviet-designed, all-weather, mobile surface-to-air missile system that entered service in 1971. It has a target engagement range of 1.5–10.3 kilometers and an altitude coverage of 10–5,000 meters. The system is mounted on a 6x6 amphibious chassis with a 300 hp diesel engine, allowing road speeds of 70 km/h, cross-country speeds of 35 km/h, and afloat speeds of 7–10 km/h. It carries six 9M33M3 missiles with fragmentation warheads and uses radar and optical systems for target tracking and engagement. It can detect targets up to 40 kilometers away and track them at a range of 23 kilometers.

Over 1,200 units were produced between 1980 and 1988. Modernizations have improved its resistance to jamming and effectiveness against fast, maneuverable targets. Despite being partially replaced by systems such as Tor and Pantsir, the Osa-AKM remains in service in several countries and has been deployed in conflicts such as the Lebanon War, the Iran-Iraq War, Operation Desert Storm, the Second Karabakh War, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.