“Targets are guaranteed to be destroyed”: what is the uniqueness of the Russian Iskander missile system

Crews of Iskander operational-tactical missile systems continue to strike at military infrastructure facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

“The armed forces of the Russian Federation, in the course of a special military operation, continue to strike with precision-guided missiles at military infrastructure and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

To solve the assigned tasks, Iskander operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK) are involved, as well, the website of the military department says.

As specified in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the missile units of the Russian army are entrusted with the task of destroying especially important objects of the enemy’s military infrastructure.

In particular, Iskander crews strike at command posts, communication centers, air defense systems, warehouses with weapons, ammunition and fuels and lubricants (fuels and lubricants).

“Combat crews act clearly and harmoniously.

Launchers at maximum speed leave shelters, take up launch positions, work out launches on targets and immediately change positions.

Only in this way the work of the calculations remains effective and prevents the return fire of the enemy.

The calculations do not doubt the accuracy of their complexes.

All set targets are guaranteed to be destroyed, and intelligence reports the exceptional precision of the missilemen’s work, ”the Russian Ministry of Defense emphasizes.

The press service of the military department has repeatedly reported on the combat use of Iskander complexes during a special operation in Ukraine.

It follows from the published information that the professional work of the missilemen made it possible to destroy the headquarters of the nationalists in Kharkov, two large depots of rocket and artillery weapons, a training base for foreign mercenaries, the Buk anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), and the Tochka-U strike systems.

Prior to the special operation, the Iskander was involved in the exercises of the strategic deterrence forces, held on February 19 under the leadership of Supreme Commander Vladimir Putin.

OTRK launched a cruise missile from the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region.

"Brand New Weapon"

The Iskander complex is included in the arsenal of missile units of the Russian Ground Forces.

The rearmament of the Russian army on the OTRK was completed at the end of 2019.

The supply of these weapons made it possible to replace the Tochka-U tactical missile system developed in the USSR.

OTRK is produced in three versions: Iskander-M, Iskander-E and Iskander-K.

The first option is intended exclusively for supplying the Russian army, the second is for deliveries to Moscow's partners through military-technical cooperation, and the third type of complex is characterized by equipment with cruise missiles.

• Rocket launch from the Iskander complex at the Kapustin Yar training ground

• © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The production of the Iskander family is deployed at the Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (KBM) located in Kolomna.

This enterprise is part of the holding "High-precision complexes" of the state corporation "Rostec".

The OTRK consists of a self-propelled launcher, transport-loading and command-and-control vehicles, a mobile information preparation point, mobile technical and household support units, as well as sets of arsenal and training equipment.

According to experts interviewed by RT, Iskander-M is the most common in the Russian army.

Its history began in the late 1980s thanks to the perseverance and talent of the famous creator of Russian missile weapons, Sergei Invincible.

He persuaded the leadership of the USSR to support the development of a new OTRK that does not fall under the terms of the INF Treaty, that is, it has a maximum range of 500 km.

"Iskander-M" was created using the developments obtained in the course of work on the operational-tactical complex 9K714 "Oka".

According to formal criteria, this OTRK did not fall into the list of utilized weapons under the INF Treaty, but the USSR included the complex there as a gesture of goodwill.

Iskander-M was put into service in 2006.

As Bekhan Ozdoev, the industrial director of the Rostec weapons complex, said in an interview with RIA Novosti in 2020, initially the OTRK was handed over to the army with one type of missile, but subsequently the range of ammunition expanded significantly.

In addition, according to the information of the management of Rostec and KBM, the performance, accuracy of hitting targets and electronic filling were significantly improved in Iskander-M.

According to a company representative, the OTRK is currently being upgraded, which will allow combat vehicles to serve for at least another 25-30 years.

In an interview with RT, the editor of the Nezavisimoe Voennoye Obozreniye newspaper, Dmitry Litovkin, called the possibility of using ballistic and cruise missiles with various warheads, including special (nuclear) ones, an important advantage of Iskander-M.

The choice of the type of missile and warhead is carried out by the military depending on the degree of security and remoteness of the target, the expert explained. 

• Rocket OTRK "Iskander"

• © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

“In terms of combat and operational capabilities, the Iskander is significantly superior to the Tochka-U that we had in service, whose missiles fly only 120 km.

Russia has received a completely new weapon capable of destroying well-fortified targets, including objects located underground, ”the expert said.

As stated in the materials of the "Red Star", "Iskander-M" is designed to strike at small and point targets.

In the theater of operations, the complex can interact with space reconnaissance equipment and UAVs.

The launcher can accommodate two missiles, each of which is capable of carrying a warhead weighing about 480 kg.

It is noted that the guidance and control system integrated into the OTRK allows hitting targets with "exceptional accuracy".

During the flight, the rocket can maneuver with the help of aerodynamic and gas-dynamic rudders.

The Iskander-M firing interval is about one minute, the shortest distance to the target is 50 km.

“The Iskander rocket flies along a parabola, but its trajectory can change.

After launch, the rocket quickly gains altitude, and in the final segment it makes a sharp vertical dive on the target, which makes it almost impossible to hit it.

In addition, the Iskander missile is equipped with means to overcome anti-missile defenses.

In general, its detection and interception is a very difficult task for any radar stations and anti-missile defense weapons, ”Litovkin emphasized.

According to the interlocutor of RT, the entire Iskander family is distinguished by the ability to quickly deploy on various types of terrain, strike almost instantly and change its location after launch, which allows you to avoid enemy return fire.

Unacceptable

Damage

Rostec calls the Iskander-M the most effective weapon in the world in its class.

According to Bekhan Ozdoev, "he (OTRK. -

) has no equal in terms of the accuracy of hitting targets and the likelihood of overcoming the enemy's missile defense."

Earlier, in an interview with the Military Industrial Courier magazine, KBM General Designer Valery Kashin said that the appearance of the Iskander-M in the arsenal of the RF Armed Forces caused hysteria in Poland and other NATO countries.

“It is mobile, can quickly respond to a threat.

Intelligence transmitted the coordinates - the missile system destroyed the target.

Depth of defeat - up to 500 km.

This is the zone of the front line and the rear adjacent to it, ”Kashin noted. 

According to the doctrine of the North Atlantic Alliance, the Iskander is a means of creating the so-called A2 / AD (anti-access / area denial)  zone

“access denied zone”.

This concept assumes that NATO forces cannot be located or move within the range of the OTRK without the risk of unacceptable damage.

In a RT commentary, military expert Yuri Knutov said that the unique combat characteristics actually made the Iskander-M a deterrent weapon for the North Atlantic Alliance.

“The West is well aware of the capabilities of our complex.

NATO commanders are aware of how mobile and accurate the Iskander-M is.

And the use of OTRK during the special operation once again proved that this is a really powerful high-precision weapon that can effectively hit warehouses, command posts and other enemy targets, including those covered by air defense systems, ”says Knutov.

Another advantage of the complex, the expert called a high level of control automation.

According to Knutov, the OTRK electronics are capable of calculating the most optimal options for hitting a target.

The calculation only needs to give permission for a missile launch.

"Iskander" allows our troops to continue to disable infrastructure facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without loss.

To date, this is the most powerful weapon that our army uses, ”Knutov emphasized.

The expert suggests that following the results of combat use in the special operation, the Russian industry will continue to modernize the Iskander family.

“Russia is not bound by the terms of the INF Treaty and may well increase the range of Iskanders.

It is likely that in the future Iskander will receive larger missiles that can hold a larger amount of fuel, and, accordingly, new launchers.

In any case, today Russia has the most advanced OTRK in the world, ”summed up Knutov.