Malaysian Boeing 777, shot down on July 17th 2014 above Donetsk Region (Ukraine), was destroyed by guided surface-to-air missile (SAM) fired from Buk-M1 system, press-service of Almaz-Antey reports.
«Analysis of destructive fragments shows that they belong to 9M38 (M1) missile intended for Buk-M1 system. In order to define the model of the missile, which allegedly hit Boeing 777, Almaz-Antey engineers analyzed the damage to the aircraft's outer fuselage and main structure. The experts also extensively studied destructive fragments the international investigation committee extracted from surviving parts of MH17 and provided for analysis. Materials received by the experts included destructive double-T-shaped fragments only used in the warhead of the 9M38M1 missile used by Buk-M1 system. Damage to MH17's structure in the shape of 13x13 mm and 14x14 mm squares also identifies this missile. The nature of the damage complies with damage done by 9M38 (M1) missiles,» said in the press-service’s statement.
Not only the shape but also the general nature of the damage inflicted had been analyzed. At that only primary damage done by the SAM warhead's destructive fragments was taken into account, not secondary damage from destroyed aircraft parts, which is unmistakably different. The characteristics of fragments, their velocity and blast zone are crucial for identifying a warhead of 9M38 (M1) missile. The 9M38M1's explosion has a distinctive formation of two waves of destructive fragments. The first wave consists of smaller fragments, while the second wave, containing the heavy double-T-shaped fragments, has the greatest momentum. A high concentration of destructive fragments, which can destroy even the strongest parts of a fuselage, is known as the 'scalpel'. It contains more than 40% of fragments and about half the warhead's explosive energy. Traces of the 'scalpel' found within the wreckage of MH17 confirm a 9M38M1 missile was the only type of SAM that could have destroyed the aircraft, the company noted.
After studying peripheral damage to the aircraft skin on the line of the fragmentation field, Almaz-Antey's experts identified the missile's warhead explosion point, which was closer to the aircraft's left side, above the buttock line.
Then the specialists defined the missile's orientation in relation to the Boeing 777, its approach angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Conclusions were drawn from analyzing aircraft skin and structure damage and the distinctive features of the missile warhead's fragmentation field. Analysis of entry holes on the aircraft skin and on the aircraft's transverse frames allowed the Almaz-Antey experts to find out that after the explosion of the warhead, its destructive fragments moved along the liner’s fuselage from nose to tail. Since the direction of the main wave of the 9M38M1's destructive fragments was perpendicular to the missile's trajectory, it’s obvious that the missile intersected the jet’s trajectory.
“Reconstruction of the Boeing 777's nose-section damage revealed the areas where the aircraft's structural framework suffered the most extensive damage. Simulating the fragmentation field after the warhead's detonation allowed the Almaz-Antey experts to define the missile's precise orientation in the air and thus its trajectory: 72-78° in horizontal plane and 20-22° in the vertical plane. Only this orientation of the missile explains the nature of all the damage and sequence of destruction of the aircraft structure. The experts then reconstructed the missile's estimated trajectory using reverse simulation. Since the Boeing 777 was moving rectilinearly, the horizontal projection of the missile's trajectory is close to a straight line - this point makes it possible to define the azimuth to the launch area. The distance to the launch point is closely connected with the projection of the missile's trajectory in the vertical plane and affects the missile's vertical approach angle. Thus the range of probable distances to the launch area was defined. The simulation showed that intersection of trajectories of the aircraft and the missile at this angle is possible only for a SAM launched from a 2.5x3.5 km zone to the south of Zaroschenskoe town, and not from Snezhnoe town. The detailed report on the analysis carried out by Almaz-Antey's experts has been handed over to the international committee investigating the incident,» the company said.
The concern noted that Almaz-Antey is the manufacturer of surface-to-air missiles and Buk medium-range air defense systems, so it possesses exclusive competences in the area of design and functionality of the missiles. However, the final conclusions about how the aircraft was destroyed will be made only upon completion of required technical evaluation; at present the concern does not have any data related to this analysis.