Cuba modernizes the S-125 Pechora missiles in military cooperation with Belarus

The Cuban air defense system has modernized its S-125 Pechora missiles, thanks to technical cooperation with Belarus. This was confirmed by the Belarusian State Military-Industrial Committee through its official channel on Telegram.

The modernization was carried out by specialists from the Belarusian company ALEVKURP, who upgraded the S-125-2BM Pechora-2BM missile system, an enhanced version of the classic Soviet system.

According to the official report, the system successfully passed factory tests, including the successful launch of four missiles that hit all their training aerial targets.

The Belarusian Committee detailed that the updated system not only maintains its primary function as air defense, but it has also been adapted to target land, maritime, and fixed-coordinate objectives, making it a more versatile platform against threats.

It is estimated that Cuba has 144 S-125 launchers, which have been in use by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) for decades.

Although considered obsolete by contemporary standards, these systems have undergone modernization to extend their lifespan and improve their performance.

Improvements made to the Pechora-2BM include:

• Comprehensive electronic update.
• Improvements in the semi-active guidance radar.
• New target tracking capabilities.
• Extension of the operational life of the missiles.

In addition to Belarus, Vietnam has also developed its own capabilities to maintain and enhance these systems, through its military plant A31 in Hanoi, which is subordinate to the Air Force of that country.

Vietnam has successfully repaired Soviet missiles such as the S-75, S-125, and S-300, and has begun an upgrade to the S-125VT version, featuring locally designed electronic components by the company Viettel.

According to the report Military Balance 2024, Vietnam maintains 51 S-125 Pechora launchers in active service, making them its most widely used air defense system.

The S-125 Neva/Pechora is a Soviet-origin surface-to-air missile system, designed in the 1950s to complement the S-25 and S-75 systems.

Unlike its predecessors, the S-125 features a two-stage design that allows it to be more effective against maneuverable and low-flying targets, in addition to providing greater resistance to electronic countermeasures.

With a maximum speed of Mach 3 to 3.5 and an altitude ceiling of up to 18,000 meters, it has been used in various international conflicts and remains in service in several countries.

In Latin America, in addition to Cuba, countries like Peru and Venezuela have operated the S-125 system.

Peru acquired six S-125M Pechora platforms and 126 5V27 Pechora missiles, distributed between the Army and the Air Force.

Venezuela, for its part, has 24 modernized S-125 Pechora-2M systems, which have been integrated into its air defense along with other systems such as the S-300BM and the Buk-M2E.

Strengthening the military alliance between Cuba and Belarus

The missile upgrades are part of a broader context of growing military cooperation between Cuba and Belarus, which has intensified in recent years as part of a strategic alignment with Russia.

In January 2024, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (FAR), Álvaro López Miera, signed a bilateral military cooperation agreement with the Belarusian Minister of Defense, Viktor Jrenin. While the details of the pact were not made public, both governments described the signing as an expression of political will and national sovereignty.

Jrenin described Cuba as "a strategic partner in the Western Hemisphere," with values similar to those of Belarus, such as the defense of independence, rejection of external pressures, and sovereign development.

During the event, López Miera stated that the agreement was "the will of the Fatherland," in a gesture interpreted as symbolic of the regime's commitment to Moscow and its allies.

In November 2023, a military cooperation plan for 2024 was finalized following a meeting between representatives of the armed forces of both countries in Havana.

During that meeting, Cuba expressed its interest in acquiring Polonez missile launchers, with a range of up to 300 kilometers, capable of attacking multiple targets simultaneously at speeds exceeding 2,500 km/h.

Additionally, Belarus has offered military training to Cuban personnel on its territory, as confirmed by the head of the International Military Cooperation Department, Valery Revenko, following a meeting with officials from the island and the Cuban military attaché in Moscow, Colonel Mónica Milián Gómez.

These actions have coincided with reports about the presence of Cuban mercenaries in the Ukraine conflict, allegedly enlisted in Russian ranks, and statements from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who stated that the military cooperation between Russia and Cuba "is progressing successfully and is satisfactory to both parties."

Frequently Asked Questions about the S-125 Pechora Missile Modernization in Cuba