A modernized by Come Back Alive Osa SAM shoots down an air target

An Osa anti-aircraft missile system modernized by the Come Back Alive Foundation has shot down an air target.

The successful use of the modernized system was reported by the air defense system’s crew to the foundation’s press service.

The enemy air target was hit by the modernized system on November 17, 2024, during one of Russia’s missile attacks on Ukraine.

It was the first time that the system successfully destroyed a Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drone that was targeting a facility in Ukraine.

According to the military, the modernization of the system has significantly increased its effectiveness in combating air targets, including kamikaze drones and recon drones such as Orlan-10, Supercam and Zala.

Thanks to the large stockpile of R-73 missiles and the limited number of organic 9M33M3 missiles, the modernized systems have been given a second life, which has significantly increased their importance on the battlefield.

Compared to the organic missile, the use of the R-73 also significantly reduced the workload on the operator. This became possible due to the principle of the missile’s operation, which consists in autonomous launch in the direction and independent search for targets to lock on, unlike the radio-commanded 9M33M3.

“The air-to-air missile has a certain advantage, as it works on a “fire and forget” basis, it does not need to be track like a regular Osa missile.”

Immediately after the R-73 firing, the system can move from its position to avoid being hit back.

Militarnyi recently reported that the Come Back Alive Foundation had modernized the Osa anti-aircraft missile systems for the Defense Forces and had invested more than UAH 14 million in the modernization.

The modernization of the air defense systems to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense is being carried out as part of the HORNET project.

“All the anti-aircraft missile regiments of the Ground Forces of Ukraine that are in service with the Osa received the upgrades,” the foundation said.

The Osa and R-73 system can work as follows: the Osa detection and tracking systems find the target, the combat vehicle points the guides with the R-73 missiles in its direction, their homing head is aimed at the target and the “launch” command is given.

It is also possible that the R-73 missile locks on the target on its own after launch.