Ukrainian rebels have portable surface-to-air missiles but it’s unclear if they have anything that could strike an aircraft at 10,000 meters.
The prime culprit is a Russian-developed Buk system which is capable of hitting targets at twice that height but would also need radar support. An Associate Press journalist near the town of Snizhne reports he saw a Buk launcher earlier in the day in possession of the rebels.
Military experts say the US and NATO (and Russian surely) have radar technology that will show the missile and can determine if it was a land-guided system. Alternatively, if it was an air-to-air attack it would virtually assure the Russian or Ukranian air force was responsible. That would be a grave result.
The latest reports from RIA news agency say Russian President Putin has called Obama to discuss the crash.
Buk launcher system
