Ukraine is advancing efforts to modernize its aging Soviet-era air defense systems, with upgrades already underway for key platforms such as the Buk and S-300 missile systems, according to a senior official in the Ministry of Defense.
In remarks delivered this week, Brigadier General Anatolii Klochko, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense, said the country’s Buk surface-to-air missile system “has been given a second life.”
“The Buk is now armed with different missiles and is already carrying out combat tasks,” Klochko said. He added that the S-300 system, another Soviet-designed platform still in active Ukrainian service, is also expected to undergo substantial changes.
“S-300 is also awaiting major changes. This work is being done, we are not standing still,” he said. “When the time comes, we will talk about it — we will say it when there is a practical result.”
General Klochko emphasized that current modernization efforts remain largely conceptual. However, he suggested that tangible progress could be achieved later this year. “For now, this work is on paper,” he said. “But in the second half of 2025, I believe we will see more concrete results.”
Ukraine inherited a variety of Soviet-made S-300 air defense systems following the dissolution of the USSR. These include the S-300PS, S-300PT, and a unique variant known as the S-300V. The systems are medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile platforms with a maximum interception range that can extend to 150 kilometers, depending on the launcher and interceptor type.
According to Klochko, the modernization program is intended to extend the operational life of these systems and improve their effectiveness against evolving aerial threats.
Although no technical specifics were disclosed, Klochko’s comments suggest a broader strategy by Kyiv to re-engineer legacy systems using domestic resources and foreign support where available. With Ukraine facing regular missile and drone attacks, maintaining a layered and flexible air defense network remains a central priority.