BUK serial numbers explained

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The JIT requested the public at the May 2018 pressconference to provide information on numbers printed on BUK missile parts. This blogpost is an attempt to provide this information.

I will update the post as needed. Input is appreciated.

The BUK missile has various types of numbers printed on it at severall locations:

1. type 1: on the container which is used to store a missile during storage and transportation,printed on the tail section of the missile, printed near the nose of the missile
2. type 2:on the casing (the area which covers the engine)
3. type 3: on the venturi (written )
4. type 4: on the venturi  (encraved)

There are at least 4  types of serialnumbers. The first is used on the missile tail and container. The other used on the casing and venturi.

There are different conventions used for the serialnumber of a 9M38M1 missile.

All the information in this post was taken from the Russian webforum MH17.webtalk.ru 

Type 1 9M38M1 number convention

xxxxxxxABBCCCDDD

xxxxxx=type 9M38M1

A= number of manufacturer. 8

BB= year of production

CCC = a batch number. There seems to be a relation between year of production and batchnumber. In 1987 the batchnumber 132 was made. Each batch seems to have between 20 and 40 missiles.

DDD = a for the particular batchnumber unique number. Numbers seems to be at random assigned. So the manufacture does not start at 001, next missile is 002 and so on.

Batch 220 and 221 seems to be in use by the Ukraine army. Missile 9M38M1887221023 was provided by Ukraine to the JIT.

Missiles of batch made in 86 with number 132 were sold to Georgia.

Almaz Antey did an experiment with a BUK 9M38M1 missile. A missile with serialnumer 9M38M1887115995 was used. This seems to be batch 115

Second convention

 

There is another convention for the 9M38M1 series of missile which is less common

xxxxxxxУД ABBCCCCC

xxxxxx=type 9M38M1

УД=  means  “УЧЕБНО-ДЕЙСТВУЮЩАЯ or training-working. This is a missile installed with a dummy (fake, not operational) engine and missile warhead.

A= number of manufacturer= always  8

BB= year of production

CCCCC = a batch number  or a unique number. (unknown)

 

 

Type 2 9M38M1 convention (printed on casing and inside venturi)

Type 2 convention is applied on the engine casing and on the venturi. Pictures showing the numbers are extremely rare. The photo below was released by JIT at the May 2018 pressconference.

The number on the casing was 9д1318869032

This number is not visible under normal condition as it is hidden under one of the stabilizer vins of the missile.

JIT explained the meaning of the number of the casing. It is made using the following components

XXXXX= the missile engine of the 9M38 type and/or 9M38M1 type. This is 9д131. This suggests the type 9д131 of engine belongs to 9M38M1 missile. Another document suggests this is a 9M38 missile.

A= Seems to be always an 8 which  is the manufacturer’s code, namely: the Dolgoprudny Research and Manufacturing Enterprise in Moscow

BB=year of production

CCCC=unique identification number of this specific missile engine.

 

 

Type 3: printed on venturi (encraved ) and inside venturi (printed)

On the venturi a number is encraved. JIT showed the number 9д13105000n830113

xxxxaaaaaaBccddd

xxxx = always 9д131 which is the type of engine.

aaaaaa =  unknown. Seems always to start with number 05. It could be a reference to a version of documentation on the engine.

B= month of production

CC=day of production

DDD = unique serial number

so 830113 is missile 113 made in August 30. The year the engine was produced in is likely determined by the serialnumber printed on the outside of the missile.

Type 4 : handwritten on venturi

There is just one photo available showing this number and that is the one released by JIT. The number shows 616039. It could be that 616 is the batch and 039 a sequence number. It could be this number is the same as the one printed on the missile nose and tail section.

 

Type 1 9M38 convention

The 9M38 missile used the same convention for the serialnumber as the 9M38M1 missile

xxxxABBCCCDDD

xxxx=type 9M38

A= number of manufacturer. 8

BB= year of production

CCC = a batch number

DDD = a for the particular batchnumber unique sequence number

9M317 missile numbering scheme Russia

The numbering scheme for the 9M31 missile in use by Russia is slightly different.

xxxxxABBCCCCC

xxxxx= 9M317 being the type

A = code for the manufacturer. Always 8

BB = year of production

CCCC = unique code

9M317 missile numbering scheme Venezuela

For the newest 9M317 missile a different numbering convention is used.

xxxxxAAABBB

xxxxx = the type of missile 9M317.

AAA = batchnumber

BBB = sequence number

The photo below shows 9M317 container of the Venezuela army.

 

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