Buk Missile System Lethal, But Undiscriminating

Not sure weapons is quite right due to the obvious and ongoing geo-political/criminal ramifications of MH17, but I found this article discussing the exact capabilities of the Buk missile system in terms of target identification to be most enlightening.

It also includes a potted history of Russian medium SAMs and why Buk is built like it is.

The most relevant bit appears to be:

This feature may have been a crucial factor in the destruction of MH17. The Fire Dome radar’s main job was to permit simultaneous engagement of more targets – one per Telar – under control of the battery’s 9S18M Snow Drift. But the Soviet military and the designers installed a set of backup modes that would permit the Telars to detect and attack targets autonomously, in the event the Snow Drift was shut down or destroyed by NATO’s rapidly improving anti-radar missiles.

The autonomous modes are intended for last-ditch use by the Telar operators, not the more highly trained crews in the battery command vehicle. According to an experienced analyst of Russian-developed radar, the automatic radar modes display targets within range. The operator can then command the system to lock up the target, illuminate and shoot.

Critically, these backup modes also bypass two safety features built into the 9S18M Snow Drift radar: a full-function identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system and non-cooperative target recognition (NCTR) modes. The IFF system uses a separate interrogator located above the main radar antenna and most likely will have been upgraded to current civilian standards.

The 9S18M introduced new NCTR processing technology, according to a 1998 interview with Buk designer Ardalion Rastov. NCTR techniques are closely held, but one of the most basic – jet engine modulation, or the analysis of beats and harmonics in the radar return that are caused by engine fan or compressor blades – should easily discriminate among a 777 with high-bypass turbofans, a turboprop transport or an Su-25 attack fighter.

There is no sign of an IFF interrogator on the Buk Telar’s Fire Dome radar or elsewhere on the vehicle. In normal operation, it would not be necessary since the target’s identity would be verified (according to the prevailing rules of engagement) before target data was passed to the Telar. Other GBADS also leave identification to the main search radar and the command-and-control center; however, the launch units cannot engage and fire without central guidance. The Buk’s combination of lethality and lack of IFF/NCTR is unique.

I'm posting this to hopefully inform people about het missile - not to engage in any argument about who or what or why.....

Civilian Transponders dont respond to IFF, so the issue is moot isn't it?

A non-reply to IFF simply identifies it as "Not Yours", however, that is not a positive "It's them".

a reply to: flibblebee

the article is about more than just IFF -

NCTR techniques are closely held, but one of the most basic – jet engine modulation, or the analysis of beats and harmonics in the radar return that are caused by engine fan or compressor blades – should easily discriminate among a 777 with high-bypass turbofans, a turboprop transport or an Su-25 attack fighter.

originally posted by: Aloysius the Gaul
a reply to: flibblebee

the article is about more than just IFF -

NCTR techniques are closely held, but one of the most basic – jet engine modulation, or the analysis of beats and harmonics in the radar return that are caused by engine fan or compressor blades – should easily discriminate among a 777 with high-bypass turbofans, a turboprop transport or an Su-25 attack fighter.

Yes, I am aware of that, I am just pointing out, majority of the worlds civilian transponders don't reply to IFF at all.

That's not to say , that they shouldn't, but we all know airlines like to push costs down unless it is mandatory.

I think a lot of people do not understand IFF and transponders.

IFF only sends out a response when its pinged by a friendly.

Transponders send out a continuous signal.

Both can be picked up when the radar has the system to read them.
but the IFF takes a ping from a friendly to get it to send back.

the BUK launchers do not have the equipment to do ether.
the BUK master radar units have the equipment to both receive transponders and to ping there friendly aircraft.
Enemy aircraft will not response with a signal or will respond with the wrong daily return code.