On March 14, the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence officials found decoy devices among Russian missiles fired into Ukraine. These decoys were released by Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles, which Russia has fired on Ukraine from mobile launchers within Ukrainian territory. The decoys are filled with electronics and generate radio signals to throw off...
The combined use of drones, artillery, and missiles in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh offers critical insight into the conduct of future wars.
On December 16, a Russian media report said that the Russian military would enlarge its Iskander brigades from 12 to 16 launchers each. According to Kremlin officials, several brigades were reorganized to include new units, with all brigades scheduled to expand by 2021. However, the report gives no timeline on when Russia would equip those...
Between September 17-19, the Russian armed forces flight tested several 9M723 Iskander ballistic missiles during military exercises in Kazakhstan. According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the exercises successfully struck their targets from “several hundred kilometers away.” The Iskander missile entered Russian service in 2006 and has a range of 500 km. Related Links: Пуски ракет...
On August 26, Russia began military drills near the Black Sea, mobilizing over 8,000 troops in an interservice exercise. During the drills, the Southern Military District’s Iskander-M crews practiced electronic missile launches and reloading procedures. According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the exercises were designed to simulate “a massive strike against the notional enemy’s command...
On June 27, the Russian Defense Ministry ordered a new delivery of 9M728 (SSC-7) cruise missiles for its Iskander-M launchers. According to reports, the Defense Ministry signed a contract to deliver 9M728 missiles at the sidelines of the ongoing Army-2019 forum. The 9M728 cruise missile has a claimed range of 490 km. Related Links: Russia’s...
On December 26, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will deploy its Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle in 2019. President Putin’s announcement came following a successful Avangard test launch that same day, marking what appears to be the missile’s fourteenth flight test. The Avangard was one of six “next generation” weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir...
On December 6, forces of Russia’s Eastern Military District tested an Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile against a fortified target at a distance of 80 km. The test took place at the Kapustin Yar test range in the Astrakhan Region which extends from outside Volgograd to the Caspian Sea. Related Links Russia’s Iskander-M units hold operational...
On December 1, the Russian Defense Ministry press service reported the successful test of a new anti-ballistic missile, conducted by a combat unit of Russia’s Air Defense and Missile Defense Forces at the Sary-Shagan Range in Kazakhstan. Quoted by the press service, Missile Defense Task Force Commander Sergei Grabchuk stated that “the new antimissile missile...
On June 16, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video showing a recent test launch of the short-range 9K720 Iskander-M ballistic missile. The video shows the missile successfully leaving the launcher but does not follow its entire trajectory. The Iskander is a road-mobile, solid-fueled tactical missile system designed to be used in theater level conflicts....
