Ukrainian forces have reportedly seized one of Russia’s most advanced portable air-defense systems, the 9K333 Verba.
The Verba system is a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), used by Russian ground forces. The Ukrainian military has published a detailed review of the captured 9M336 missile, which was manufactured in 2020.
This marks a notable capture, as the Verba (designated as SA-25 in NATO classification) is one of the most modern pieces of air defense technology in Russia’s arsenal. The system was designed to target aircraft, helicopters, and even cruise missiles with high precision.
The Verba is a third-generation MANPADS, and unlike its predecessor, the Igla system, it employs a multi-spectral optical seeker, which enhances its ability to detect and engage low-flying targets, even in environments filled with infrared countermeasures. The 9M336 missile operates across a wider range of detection bands, making it more resistant to jamming and decoys.
According to military analysts, capturing this modern weapon could provide Ukraine with valuable intelligence on Russia’s advanced defense technologies. The missile’s seeker head, which operates across ultraviolet, infrared, and visible spectra, is particularly of interest due to its capacity to track heat signatures while avoiding interference from flares or other countermeasures.
The 9K333 Verba entered service with the Russian military in the mid-2010s, replacing the older Igla systems.