In world politics there are magic words that make entire governments tremble. For example, the phrase “chemical weapons in Syria” or “nuclear weapons in Iran” evokes a state of extreme military-diplomatic excitement among the political elite of Western countries. However, in terms of the speed of reaction of the progressive public to such phrases, our Iskander has no equal. The mention of the Iskander-M OTRK, especially in the context of its deployment near someone’s borders, inevitably entails a reaction close to hysteria from the media, military and politicians of border countries and their Western overlords. Let's figure out what is the secret of the magical properties of this operational-tactical missile system that so frightens our neighbors.
The problem with the Iskander missile system is that it cannot be caught. Firstly, because during the flight the missile maneuvers with enormous overloads, which are still unattainable for any interceptor missile in service with the countries of the world. Secondly, it flies very low - up to 6 km from the surface at a speed of Mach 4, so it is almost impossible to detect it using standard radar means. Thirdly, it throws out false targets to deceive the enemy’s radar, sets up active radio interference and “jammes” all the emitters by which missile defense systems navigate in space. Those. The Iskander can destroy any object within a radius of 500 km with an accuracy of 2 meters and a probability close to 100%. Theoretically, by launching a missile from Kaliningrad, you can “reach” the government quarter in Berlin, and the destructive force of the strike can be easily increased by “hanging” a nuclear warhead on the missile. No one in the world has such missile weapons. At the same time, Iskander is extremely mobile and secretive - the likelihood of its detection, even by space reconnaissance means, is very low. Within 1 minute, he launched a set of missiles and immediately left the location, turning off all devices.
The rocket is single-stage, has an engine with a single nozzle, is non-ballistic and is controlled throughout the entire flight path using aerodynamic and gas-dynamic rudders. Most of the flight path of a missile made using Stealth technology and having a small dispersion surface passes at an altitude of 50 km, and on the approach phase - 6-20 km (depending on the type of OTRK), which makes its defeat by the enemy a practically impossible task . The “invisibility” effect is achieved through a combination of design features, in particular, treating the rocket with special nanostructured dispersive coatings, dropping protruding parts after launch, etc. The Iskander trajectory is not only non-ballistic, but also difficult to predict. Immediately after launch and immediately upon approaching the target, the missile performs intensive maneuvering. Depending on the trajectory, overloads range from 20 to 30 units. Accordingly, the interceptor missile must withstand an overload of at least 2-3 times higher, which is technologically impossible within the framework of the existing 4th technological order in the world and even the promising fifth.
The Iskander-M is the main version for the Russian army and is significantly more complex than the Iskander-E available for export. Less noticeable, more maneuverable at the start and during the final phase of the flight. In addition, it has not just an inertial guidance system, like the Iskander-E, but a combined one, including radio correction, GPS, GLONASS, laser and optical homing in the final section. Controlled by lattice rudders. The warhead is not separated in principle, because the body serves to create lift at the final section.
In 2012, another complex was final tested - Iskander-K, which is a further development of the M. It launches even more accurate, already cruise missiles, which are equipped with small load-bearing surfaces, like on the R-37. Thanks to this, it became possible to fire along a flat trajectory, like the OKA complex did in its time, only much more accurately and faster. The missile can fly at an altitude of only 6 km (horizontal radars have no chance), it uses a combined seeker and replaceable warheads. Two missiles in a salvo can be equipped with different guidance systems and fire both along a mounted and flat trajectory.
Experts express the opinion that the combined use of two brothers - Iskander-M and Iskander-K - gives a synergistic effect that none of the existing missile defense systems can counteract. One of the missile technology experts, speaking on forums under the nickname “Evil Critic,” described the new product this way: “It is known that both ballistic missiles (BMs) and cruise missiles (CR), as well as their guidance systems, have a number of limitations on the “current state” of the target object... For example, if you bet ONLY on the Iskander-M, for example, with an optical-correlation system for final guidance on the target target, and if you assume that the object will have to be hit at “hour X” with low clouds and intense visual opposition from the enemy, the bet may be lost. The same applies to the final guidance radar system, which is similar in operating principle to that of the Pershing-2 - here the enemy’s intense electronic warfare can confuse the cards. At the same time, low clouds, for example, and intense visual masking of the final object, will be to a certain extent “on the drum” of the CR with an inertial and optical-correlation system that works out navigation corrections throughout the ENTIRE route (similar to the Pendossk ALCM CR).. Here, no amount of masking of the target will help - and here you ONLY need to shoot down the missile, shoot it down on the route or, as a last resort, on the approach to the target.
Finally, let’s imagine a situation where “Iskander-K” and “Iskander-M” “approach” the target (Czech missile defense radar or noble mines with GBI) - AT THE SAME TIME... And each demonstrates “their signature set of gadgets” , - “Iskander-M” - high-intensity maneuvering of a high-flying hypersonic target, “Iskander-K” - an extremely low flight profile (about 6 m) and following the terrain in a practically “autonomous” (i.e., independent of the search for a target onboard sensors) mode... This REALLY is a situation close to 100% probability of hitting the target... So, to combat Euro-missile defense, the COMBINATION of "Iskander-M" + "Iskander-K" is really optimal. The trick is to use these products simultaneously, “in one hit.”
The German newspaper Bild, citing its sources, reported that Russia has deployed Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region near the border with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This message was followed by the reaction of the US authorities, who immediately, through all channels of interaction, called on Russia not to destabilize the situation by deploying Iskander missiles in the west. "We would not want them to take steps that would destabilize the region," US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. Translated from diplomatic to human, it sounds something like this: “The deployment of Iskander missiles will upset the entire balance of power in Europe, and not in our direction. Anything but Iskander!” Concerns were also expressed in Poland and Latvia. Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olakas called this alarming news, and Lithuanian Presidential Adviser Dali Grybauskaite said that Russia's actions do not correspond to declarations of desire for closer cooperation with the European Union and NATO. Even China became nervous when it learned that the missile system would be located near its border.
Let us note that with the delivery of Iskander missiles to Armenia, the hands of Azerbaijan, which had recently been trying to flex its military muscles in the region, were tied - the aggressive rhetoric towards Yerevan stopped. In 2014, Armenia will complete the re-equipment of its missile units with ultra-precise and long-range missile systems. Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan stated this at a press conference in Yerevan on January 24, answering a question from journalists about whether reports about Yerevan’s acquisition of Russian modern operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK) Iskander-M are true. Please note that it is not the export Iskander-E with a range of 280 km and one missile in the launcher, which has been reduced in capabilities, but a full-fledged "M", firing at a distance of up to 500 km and having 2 missiles at once (by the way, so far the only OTRK in the world capable launch 2 missiles from one launcher at once). Apparently, an exception was made for our Armenian friends due to the tense geopolitical situation throughout the CIS.
Iskander can deliver cluster (with 54 combat elements), penetrating, high-explosive fragmentation, and nuclear warheads to the target. This allows you to hit small-sized and area targets, including enemy fire weapons, air defense and missile defense systems, aircraft at airfields, command posts, etc. The RK includes a missile, a self-propelled launcher, a transport-loading and command-staff vehicle, a mobile information preparation station, mobile technical and household support units, as well as sets of arsenal and training equipment.
The history of the creation of this OTRK began in the early 80s. The use of conventional (non-nuclear) warheads while maintaining the effectiveness of the weapon forced developers to look for new ways to build a missile control system (CS). The accuracy of the inertial control system for solving this problem is insufficient; it should have been increased
approximately by an order of magnitude. In the 80s Attempts have already been made in our country to solve this problem. Optical homing equipment for the Scud was created (it was even possible to conduct field tests and hand over the missile for trial operation among the troops). A nuclear-free warhead with guidance using a correlation-type radar seeker was developed for the Volga complex. The modernized "Oka" and "Tochka" had not only an inertial control system, but also an optical correlation-extreme guidance system, which was also not only tested, but also underwent trial operation by the troops. During the years of inactivity of our military-industrial complex, the United States achieved great success in this direction: on the American Pershing-2 missile, which was destroyed under the INF Treaty, a radar seeker was installed that identified the terrain in the target area; optical homing systems are used in modern versions of the Tomahawk and CALCM cruise missiles. Their effectiveness was clearly demonstrated in Iraq and Yugoslavia.
The task of creating similar equipment for the Iskander was completed by the Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics (TsNIIAG), a leading developer of guidance and control systems for domestic tactical and operational-tactical missiles, which has a 25-year track record in the development of homing heads. The main way to solve this problem was to combine an inertial system with optical guidance over the terrain surrounding the target. Moreover, the homing head created at TsNIIAG can be used both as part of the Iskander and on ballistic and cruise missiles of various classes and types (including intercontinental ones). This seeker has already passed flight tests and has shown accuracy better than the Americans achieved with their Tomahawks.
The principle of operation of homing systems, which have the scientific name of correlation-extreme, is that optical equipment forms an image of the terrain in the target area, which is compared in the on-board computer with a reference one, after which corrective signals are issued to the missile controls.
The optical seeker is universal and makes only one requirement for the missile's inertial control system: to bring the latter to the point at which the optics begin to see the target. Existing active electronic warfare systems, which very effectively counteract radar homing systems, are powerless against such a head. The high sensitivity of the seeker allows it to operate even on a moonless night, which distinguishes the new system from existing analogues. In addition, optical systems do not require signals from space radio navigation systems, such as the American NAVSTAR, which in crisis situations can be turned off by its owners or disabled by radio interference. By the way, many potential customers of Iskander-E put forward demands for independence from satellite navigation. At the same time, the integration of inertial control with satellite navigation equipment and an optical seeker makes it possible to create a missile that can hit a given target in almost any imaginable conditions.
Information about the target is transmitted from a satellite, reconnaissance aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle to the information preparation point (IPP). It calculates the flight mission for the rocket, which is then transmitted via radio channels to the command and staff vehicles (CSVs) of the division and battery commanders, and from there to the launchers. Commands to launch missiles can be generated either in the command post or from the control centers of senior artillery commanders. The PPI and KShM equipment is built on local networks of Russian computers, and the functionality of the control set depends only on the software and can be easily upgraded to control various fire weapons.
On October 11, 2011, it was announced that the first stage of testing of the updated Iskander-M missile system with new combat equipment was completed - with a new electronic warfare system, which provides cover for the missile during the final flight phase. This system includes means of passive and active jamming of enemy air and missile defense surveillance and firing radars through noise and the release of false targets. Since 2013, new missiles began to be supplied to the Russian army.
The 2012 CIA analytical review “On strategic risks and the global military-political situation in the world” contains a very revealing definition: “The Iskander operational-tactical missile system is a weapon capable of influencing the military-political situation in regions of the world if located in Their states do not have an extended territory. Therefore, the issues of deployment of Iskander complexes, as well as their export deliveries, are the subject of political consultations between the countries.”
The complex is designed to engage conventionally equipped combat units against small-sized and area targets deep in the operational formation of enemy troops. It is assumed that it can be a means of delivering tactical nuclear weapons.
Most Likely Targets:
— fire weapons (missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery);
— missile defense and air defense systems;
— airplanes and helicopters at airfields;
— command posts and communication centers;
— the most important civil infrastructure facilities.
The main features of the Iskander OTRK are:
— high-precision effective destruction of various types of targets;
- the ability to covertly carry out combat duty, prepare for combat use and launch missile strikes;
— automatic calculation and input of flight missions for missiles when placing them on the launcher;
— high probability of completing a combat mission in the face of active enemy opposition;
— high operational reliability of the rocket and its reliability during preparation for launch and in flight;
— high tactical maneuverability due to the placement of combat vehicles on off-road all-wheel drive chassis;
— high strategic mobility, which is ensured by the ability to transport combat vehicles by all types of transport, including aviation;
— high degree of automation of the process of combat control of missile units;
— fast processing and timely delivery of intelligence information to the necessary management levels;
- long service life and ease of use.
Combat characteristics:
— circular probable deviation: 1...30 m;
— rocket launch weight 3,800 kg;
— length 7.2 m;
— diameter 920 mm;
— warhead weight 480 kg;
— rocket speed after the initial part of the trajectory is 2100 m/s;
— the minimum target engagement range is 50 km;
— maximum range of hitting a target:
500 km Iskander-K
280 km Iskander-E
— time before the launch of the first rocket is 4...16 minutes;
— interval between starts: 1 minute
— service life: 10 years, including 3 years in field conditions.
The main elements that make up the Iskander OTRK are:
- rocket,
- self-propelled launcher,
— transport-charging machine,
— routine maintenance machine,
— command and staff vehicle,
— information preparation point,
— a set of arsenal equipment,
— educational and training facilities.
Self-propelled launcher(SPU) - designed for storing, transporting, preparing and launching two missiles at a target (in the export version, 1 missile). The SPU can be implemented on the basis of a special wheeled chassis MZKT-7930 produced by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. Gross weight 42 tons, payload 19 tons, highway/dirt road speed 70/40 km/h, fuel range 1000 km. Calculation 3 people.
Transport-charging machine(TZM) - designed to transport two additional missiles. The TZM is implemented on the MZKT-7930 chassis and is equipped with a loading crane. Total combat weight 40 tons. Crew 2 people.
Command and staff vehicle(KShM) - designed to control the entire Iskander complex. Implemented on the KamAZ-43101 wheeled chassis. Calculation 4 people. KShM CHARACTERISTICS:
— maximum radio communication range when stationary/on the move: 350/50 km
— task calculation time for missiles: up to 10 s
— command transmission time: up to 15 s
— number of communication channels: up to 16
— deployment (collapse) time: up to 30 minutes
— continuous operation time: 48 hours
Regulation and maintenance machine(MRTO) - designed to check on-board equipment of rockets and instruments, to carry out routine repairs. Implemented on a KamAZ wheeled chassis. Weight is 13.5 tons, deployment time does not exceed 20 minutes, the time of the automated cycle of routine checks of the on-board equipment of the rocket is 18 minutes, crew 2 people.
Information preparation point(PPI) - designed to determine the coordinates of the target and prepare flight missions for missiles with their subsequent transfer to the SPU. The PPI is integrated with reconnaissance assets and can receive missions and assigned targets from all necessary sources, including from a satellite, aircraft or drone. Calculation 2 people.
Life support machine(MJO) - intended for accommodation, rest and eating of combat crews. Implemented on a KamAZ-43118 wheeled chassis. The machine includes: a rest compartment and a utility compartment. The rest compartment has 6 carriage-type berths with folding upper beds, 2 lockers, built-in lockers, and an opening window. The utility compartment has 2 lockers with seats, a folding lifting table, a water supply system with a 300-liter tank, a tank for heating water, a pump for pumping water, a drainage system, a sink, and a dryer for clothes and shoes.
ROCKET of the Iskander complex
is a solid-fuel, single-stage, with a warhead that is not detachable in flight, guided and vigorously maneuvered throughout the entire difficult-to-predict flight path. It maneuvers especially actively during the starting and final stages of the flight, during which it approaches the target with a high (20-30 units) overload.
This necessitates an anti-missile flight to intercept an Iskander OTRK missile with an overload 2-3 times greater, which is currently practically impossible.
Most of the flight path of the Iskander missile, made using stealth technology with a small reflective surface, passes at an altitude of 50 km, which also significantly reduces the likelihood of it being hit by the enemy. The “invisibility” effect is achieved due to the combination of design features of the rocket and the treatment of its surface with special coatings.
To launch a missile to a target it is used inertial control system, which is subsequently captured by an autonomous correlation-extreme optical homing head (GOS). The operating principle of the missile homing system is based on the formation by optical equipment of the seeker of an image of the terrain in the target area, which the on-board computer compares with the standard entered into it when preparing the missile for launch.
Optical homing head is characterized by increased sensitivity and resistance to existing electronic warfare systems, which allows missile launches on moonless nights without additional natural illumination and hit a moving target with an error of plus or minus two meters. Currently, except for the Iskander OTRK, no other similar missile system in the world can solve this problem.
It is characteristic that the optical homing system used in the rocket does not require corrective signals from space radio navigation systems, which in crisis situations can be disabled by radio interference or simply turned off. The integrated use of an inertial control system with satellite navigation equipment and an optical seeker made it possible to create a missile that can hit a given target in almost any possible conditions. The homing head installed on the Iskander OTRK missile can be installed on ballistic and cruise missiles of various classes and types.
Types of combat units
- cassette with fragmentation combat elements of non-contact detonation (detonated at a height of about 10 m above the ground)
— cassette with cumulative fragmentation combat elements
— cassette with self-aiming combat elements
— cassette volumetric-detonating action
— high-explosive fragmentation (HFBCh)
- high-explosive incendiary
— penetrating (PrBC)
The cluster warhead contains 54 combat elements.
The Iskander complex is integrated with various reconnaissance and control systems. It is capable of receiving information about a target designated for destruction from a satellite, reconnaissance aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle (of the Reis-D type) to the information preparation point (PPI). It calculates the flight mission for the rocket and prepares reference information for the rockets.
This information is transmitted via radio channels to the command and staff vehicles of the division commanders and batteries, and from there to the launchers. Commands to launch missiles can come from the command gun or from the control posts of senior artillery commanders.
Placing two missiles on each SPU and TZM significantly increases the firepower of missile divisions, and a one-minute interval between missile launches against different targets ensures high fire performance. In terms of its effectiveness, taking into account the total combat capabilities, operational-tactical The Iskander missile system is equivalent to a nuclear weapon.
/Alex Varlamik, based on materials from arms-expo.ru and wikipedia.org/
This week, a new missile for the Iskander-M operational-tactical complex (OTRK) was successfully tested at the Kapustin Yar test site. According to Viktor Bondarev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, the event is extremely important for the country. Considering the constantly tense situation not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also on the border with the Kaliningrad region.
As the TASS senator stated, “the development and subsequent adoption of new high-precision missiles for hitting missile defense and air defense facilities serves as a guarantee of not only Russian, but also international security.”
Indeed, NATO generals take the Iskander extremely seriously. Firstly, neither the United States nor any other NATO country has an OTRK that would be close to the Iskander in terms of combat capabilities. Secondly, no one has any methods to combat Iskander missiles.
This spring, the head of the US Strategic Command, Air Force General John Hyten, speaking in the US Congress, admitted: “We cannot protect Europe from the ground-based cruise missiles that were recently deployed by Russia.”
It would seem that in such a situation the developer of the Iskander-M OTRK, which is the Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, can take a break. However, the general director of the design bureau, V. Kashin, told TASS at the beginning of this year that in order to maintain its leading position in the next decade, modernization of the complex is planned. The tests that have passed relate directly to it.
Since January, the situation has become more detailed. Shortly before the tests, it was reported that “seven types of missiles have been developed, and maybe more.” Outwardly, they do not differ, but the filling of the missiles is different - engines, warheads, control systems. How many missiles will actually be added to the two already available is not yet entirely clear. But one thing is certain. Since the modernization of the OTRK will take place in stages and will take at least two decades, the connection of new missiles to the complex will be done step by step. At the same time, new missiles will replace the old ones “at the combat post.” And in the near future, one missile may appear, which is currently being tested at the Kapustin Yar test site. And everyone was satisfied with the results of the launches.
So why are the United States and its satellites so afraid of the Iskander? They inherited this fear from the previous generation of military men, who reacted with the same panic to the Oka OTRK, which appeared in the 80s. The panic was understandable - Oka missiles were guaranteed to overcome all NATO missile defense systems available at that time.
During perestroika, when the USSR and the United States signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the Americans insisted on eliminating all Oka tactical missile systems deployed at that time and curtailing their production. This was achieved through forceful pressure on Moscow, since Oka had nothing to do with the INF Treaty. The maximum launch range of its missiles was 450 km. The treaty provided for the elimination of ground-based missiles whose range was between 500 km and 5500 km.
In the mid-90s, it was decided to create a new OTRK, not only using the developments gained during the development of the Oka, but also introducing the latest scientific and technical principles. The main developer, as before, was the Kolomna Design Bureau, and the co-implementers of the topic were a number of design bureaus and research institutes.
At first, the complex worked with one missile - a quasi-ballistic one. Its testing began at the Kapustin Yar test site in 1998. But then a default broke out, and the matter was delayed unjustifiably, that is, not for engineering reasons. The complex was put into service only in 2006. And then the first missile brigade of the Volga-Ural Military District began to be equipped with Iskanders.
Until 2013, the Iskander was equipped with two 9M723 quasi-ballistic missiles with different warheads - cluster, high-explosive fragmentation and penetrating. There is a modification with a nuclear charge. Warhead weight - 480 kg. At that time, the complex was 5-8 times superior in combat capabilities to its best analogues.
A quasi-ballistic missile received this name because when flying along a ballistic trajectory in airless space, it maneuvers with the help of gas-dynamic rudders to avoid enemy missile defenses. The rocket is a single-stage rocket with a solid-fuel jet engine. Flight in the passive phase after turning off the engine occurs at an altitude of 50 km.
The designers solved the problem of setting false targets for enemy radars in an extremely interesting way. During flight, radio wave reflectors are shot back in such a way that they form several groups. Each of these groups has the same effective dispersion area as the missile itself. As a result, several identical “missiles” flying at the same speeds are displayed on the locator screens. To ensure that the reflectors do not lag behind in flight, thereby unmasking the rocket, it periodically slows down, moving throughout the entire trajectory in a “group of quasi-missiles.”
During the final phase of the flight, when, as a result of diving towards the target, the speed increases to 6-7M, the rocket maneuvers with the help of aerodynamic rudders. In this case, the overload reaches 30g.
The first version of Iskander, of course, made an unfavorable impression on the Americans. But dejection gave way to hysteria when the Yekaterinburg design bureau "Novator" made a second missile for the complex - the R-500 cruise missile. Due to the inability to defend against the modernized OTRK, the United States responded with accusations that the R-500 violates the INF Treaty, since its range allegedly exceeds 500 km. And all this is unproven.
The R-500 has subsonic speed, but at the same time has the unique ability to overcome enemy missile defenses due to a number of engineering solutions, many of which have become revolutionary. That is, intercepting it is as difficult as, say, hitting a bullet fired from a sniper rifle from a slingshot.
It took more than 10 years to create this rocket. Testing and refinement in their process lasted 6 years. And in 2013 it was put into service.
Many characteristics and principles of operation of the R-500 missile are classified. It is known that with a warhead weighing 480 kg, its maximum deviation from the target is 1 meter. The approach to the target when entering the enemy missile defense zone occurs at an altitude of 7 meters. This became possible thanks to a comparative analysis by the on-board computer of the terrain map, images from the television camera and data received from the seeker. Like a quasi-ballistic missile, the R-500 can be equipped with a variety of warheads, including nuclear.
If it is practically impossible to intercept each of the two types of Iskander missiles, then when both quasi-ballistic and cruise missiles simultaneously approach the target, then it is no longer possible to intercept them even theoretically.
The range of the R-500 does not exceed 500 km, which is reflected in the name of the missile. The new missile tested at the Kapustin Yar test site also does not fly further. And, incredible as it may seem, people across the ocean are finally beginning to agree with this. Even if not universally and not everywhere. Thus, commenting on the tests, Newsweek writes: “This means that the Iskander-M missiles, although capable of carrying nuclear warheads, are not covered by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).”
The Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, by creating new missiles for the Iskander, is increasing the lead in this area of armament from the United States. Indeed, the best American OTRK MGM-140 ATACMS is significantly inferior to the Iskander-M in all respects. The ballistic missile covers a distance of 270 km and has a payload of 277 kg. Deviation from the target is 10−20 m. The missile maneuvers using aerodynamic rudders when flying in the atmosphere. But this exhausts the possibilities of countering missile defense systems. The complex was created in the late 80s, when the United States decided that there were no more serious opponents and never would be. Therefore, the development of more efficient systems was curtailed.
The situation has changed. A year ago it became known that the United States was beginning to develop a new complex. Its accuracy, range, payload, and ability to overcome missile defense systems will increase. It is reported that the new OTRK will be ready by 2027. During this time, Iskander will go even further forward. So the “catch up and overtake Russia” maneuver should not yield great results.
DATA FOR 2017 (standard update, v.2)
9K715 Iskander complex, 9M723 missile - SS-X-26 STONE
Complex 9K720 "Iskander-M", missile 9M723-1 - SS-26 STONE-A
Complex 9K720E "Iskander-E", missile 9M723E - SS-26 STONE-B
Complex 9K720 "Iskander-M", missile 9M728 / R-500 ("Iskander-K") - SS-26 STONE-S
Operational-tactical missile system / multi-purpose modular missile system of the ground forces. The development of the complex was carried out using developments in the complexes " ", " ", " " and " ". It is also likely that the complex was created taking into account the research work " " on the study of the concept of a modular-type multifunctional missile system for the ground forces. The origins of the development of the complex date back to the Iskander research work, carried out since 1978. On the topic of research, the possibility of placing two OTR class OTR 9M79 " " on the SPU of a similar SPU of the 9K714 "Oka" complex was studied. The main goal is to create an OTR with a range of up to 400 km to replace the complex with the 8K14 missile with increased combat performance, as well as to ensure guaranteed destruction of particularly important targets with two missiles. According to unconfirmed reports, the Iskander research project was stopped in the first half of the 1980s at the stage of testing the targeting system and missile control systems.
The development of the Iskander complex in its original form began at the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau (Kolomna, hereinafter - KBM) on an initiative basis by order of the chief designer S.P. Nepobedimy and under his leadership in 1987. KBM's competitor in the development of the new generation OTR was Tula The Instrument Design Bureau under the leadership of A.G. Shipunov proposed its own. The resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers on financing the design work of the complex was issued in 1988. When creating the complex, the task was set to ensure interaction within the RUK "Equality" with the M-55 target designation aircraft (developed by RUK - NIIEMI). The original project may have planned to use the SPU 9P76 with one missile. The KShM of the RUK "Equality" was designed on the MAZ-543 chassis (the KShM is similar to the KShM "Polyana").
Self-propelled launcher 9P78-1 of the 9K720 Iskander-M missile system with a 9M723 missile during exercises of the missile brigade in Primorye, November 14-18, 2016 (http://smitsmitty.livejournal.com/).
The development of prototypes of self-propelled guns was carried out by the Titan Central Design Bureau. The prototype of the two-missile SPU Br-1555-1 was developed by the Titan Design Bureau on the basis of the BAZ-69501 chassis by 1991. At site 4C ("4-old") of the Strategic Missile Forces Kapustin Yar training ground (4th GCMP) in the summer of 1991 from installation Several throw-in launches were carried out (including two-missile salvo launches). In most sources, the Br-1555-1 SPU appears as a “mock-up test site sample” of the launcher. The development of SPU on the BAZ-69501 chassis has not been completed. Also, in some sources the index “9P81” has been replicated, but whether it has a real relation to the Iskander / Iskander-M complexes or is a fiction (error) has not been established.
In 1990-1992 CDB "Titan" developed and manufactured the first prototype of the SPU 9P76 on the BAZ-6954 chassis. Presumably, the development of a new type of SPU on the new BAZ chassis was carried out earlier in parallel with the development of the Br-1555-1 SPU. The first launch from the new SPU was carried out in the summer of 1992. Further, in 1992, tests were continued with a second launch. During 1993, 5 launches were carried out from SPU 9P76 No. 1. In 1994-1997 prototypes of the 9M723 missile, presumably with a cassette warhead, were tested from the SPU. In total, more than 10 launches were made.
Site No. 231 of the Kapustin Yar test site where the Iskander missile system was tested (https://www.bing.com, 2016).
Testing of Iskander missiles with SPU 9P76, Kapustin Yar test site (TV program "Strike Force").
For testing, 2 single-missile SPU 9P76 (samples No. 1 and No. 2) were manufactured on the BAZ-6954 chassis and 2 transport vehicles 9T246, probably on the same chassis. The tests were carried out at the same site 4C of the 4th State Medical Center Kapustin Yar. The second copy of the SPU 9P76 was used to test the rocket launcher and was used for launches at the Kapustin Yar test site a limited number of times. Thus, tests of the first versions of the Iskander complex were carried out from 1991 to 1997. Moreover, already on October 25, 1995, the completion of tests of the Iskander missile system was announced at Krasnaya Zvezda.
KBM specialists and testers are working at the landing site of the Iskander missile. Second from left is Deputy Head of the Scientific and Technical Department of KBM I.N. Kotkov. Kapustin Yar training ground, 1990s - early 2000s (processed).
After the first launches of Iskander OTR prototypes, a decision was made to change the approach to the concept of using the complex towards a “multi-purpose modular missile system of the ground forces” with different types of missiles. In 1993, the technical specifications for the Iskander-M complex were approved. Work on the complex was continued by a team of KBM specialists under the leadership of the chief designer of the department Oleg Mamalyga. In 1995, the first experimental two-missile SPU 9P78 was manufactured on the MZKT-7930 chassis (9P78 version 1, see figure below). Tests of the complex with the experimental SPU 9P78 version 1 have been carried out at the Kapustin Yar test site since 1995:
- since 1995, throwing and autonomous range tests have been carried out, an experiment was conducted with the suspension of a cruise missile;
- field testing of the complex began in 1997;
- in 1999, at the 71st RV site of the Kapustin Yar test site, State tests of the Iskander-M complex began, which were completed with 9M723 ballistic missiles with a new version of the cluster warhead in August 2004 (probably 9M723K5 or its prototype).
In total, during tests with SPU 9P78, 9P78-1 No. 1 and No. 2, 13 launches of 9M723 missiles were carried out. As of April 2004, 10 launches were carried out as part of state tests, and later 3 more launches were made. State tests were successfully completed in 2004 ().
Development of the 9M728 cruise missile As one of the types of combat equipment for the missile system, the Novator Design Bureau (Ekaterinburg) was carried out under the general leadership of P.I. Kamnev. In 2007 Based on the results of successful launches of 9M728 cruise missiles (Iskander R&D), a decision was made to move in 2008 to the final stage of testing the Iskander-M complex in the final expanded composition of fire weapons ().
Serial production and adoption. Production of the MZKT-7930 chassis was started by the MZKT plant (Minsk) in 1998. State tests of the basic version of the Iskander complex were supposed to be completed in 2000, but began at the 71st site of the RV NE of the Kapustin Yar training ground in 2001. and were completed only in August 2004 (as of April 2004, 10 launches were carried out as part of state tests, later at least 5-6 more).
The 9K720 Iskander-M complex was put into service in a truncated composition in 2004 and in 2005 the complex began to enter combat units (630th ORDN of the 60th Combat Use Center, Kapustin Yar). In 2006, the 9K720 Iskander-M complex (Previously it was believed that this name was purely a media invention, but in the second half of 2009 we established the reliability of the name based on documents on open government contracts)fully adopted by the Russian Armed Forces with ballistic missiles of the 9M723 type(source - plate to SPU 9P76 of the complex in the open part of the museum of the Kapustin Yar test site) . Planned (2008) start of mass production - 2010. Completion of the deployment of the army group according to the plan (2008-2009) - 2015. Missiles are produced at the Votkinsk plant, self-propelled launchers and heavy equipment - PO "Barricades" (g .Volgograd, in series since 2006, production capabilities for 2008 - 12 complexes per year), chassis - Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (Minsk, Belarus). "Iskander-E" is an export version of the complex with a reduced range and conventional warheads. It is likely that the original design of the Iskander missile system envisaged the use of several types of ballistic missiles. The formation of the first military missile brigade was completed in 2010 ().
According to plans announced at the beginning of 2011, during the implementation of the state armaments program for 2011-2020. (adopted on December 31, 2010) it is planned to supply 10 missile brigades of Iskander-M complexes to the armed forces. On August 1, 2011, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia D. Bulgakov stated that it is planned to adopt a total of 120 Iskander complexes (i.e. 12 SPU per brigade) into service with the Russian Armed Forces. In 2011, a contract was concluded between the Russian Ministry of Defense and NPK KBM for the supply of 10 brigade sets of Iskander-M complexes with ballistic and cruise missiles - each set includes 12 launchers, 12 transport-loading vehicles, 11 command-and-control vehicles. staff vehicles, 14 life support vehicles, one information preparation point, one routine maintenance vehicle, a set of training aids, a set of portable automated workstations, a set of arsenal equipment and a military supply of two types of missiles (). The delivery of the first such set was carried out in June 2013. The delivery of the second set is planned for the fall of 2013. Until 2018, the 2011 program can be completed at this rate. When handing over the first set on June 28, 2013, it was stated that the missile brigades are not ready to provide storage of the received complexes - there are no properly equipped heated and air-conditioned boxes. Storing equipment outside ensures equipment wear and tear of 50% per season. There and at the same time, information was made public that the combat use control and target designation system of the Iskander-M complexes had not been developed and not accepted for service ().
On February 10, 2014, the media reported that a new type of missile was being created for the Iskander-M missile system ().
Hypothetical 2009-2010 - In our opinion, the Iskander complex went through three stages in the process of creation:
1) Research and development project "Iskander"- the first version of the 9M723 missile and complex - was studied in the OTR configuration of the ground forces as part of preliminary research based on the ideas contained in the Uran, Oka and Tochka projects, which were carried out in the mid-1980s or even earlier. There is evidence that the development of some components of the missile control system and complex within the framework of the Iskander project was carried out until 1986 at SKB-626 (now NPO Automation named after Academician N.A. Semikhatov, Miass). The complex was supposedly intended to replace the 9K72 SCUD-B complexes in the USSR Armed Forces according to the principle - 1 Iskander SPU with 2 missiles instead of a battery of 9K72 complexes, and taking into account high accuracy - instead of a 9K72 division. Perhaps it was intended to use a two-missile non-floating SPU similar in design to the SPU of the Oka-U complex on a BAZ chassis. The missile and complex were supposed to implement the following technological solutions: implementation of topographical reference at any point along the route, receiving target designation from external sources of information in real time, retargeting the missile after launch, using correlation seekers at the final stage of the trajectory, minimal radar signature of the missile and a set of measures for overcoming a potential missile defense system, entering data into the missile control system inside the SPU before transferring the missile to the launch position (first implemented by 1972 on the Temp-2S ICBM), controlling the missile throughout the entire flight path.
2) 9K715 "Iskander" / OKR "Tender"- second version of the rocket 9M723 and complex - was created starting in 1987 as a replacement for OTR Oka and 9K72 SCUD-B. Tests began in 1991 at the Kapustin Yar test site, the weight of the warhead was reduced. Tests were carried out using test site PU, SPU 9P81 and 9P78. On the basis of this version of the rocket, the initial version of the Iskander-E complex was created and is being marketed, tests of which were carried out approximately in 1995-2001. (as part of missile testing 9M723 ). According to fragmentary data and an interview with chief designer O.I. Mamalyga (2004), Iskander-E carries 1 missile on the SPU.
3) 9K720 "Iskander-M"- the third option is a modular multifunctional complex created using the results of the Volna research project. Fire weapons:
- basic model - "Iskander-M" with 9M723 missile (" 9M723 third option") - the characteristics of the rocket have been noticeably changed - a more modern mixed fuel and a control system for both the rocket and the complex, built on a new elemental base, are used.
- export version of the Iskander-E with the 9M723 missile.
- development - "Iskander-K" with a cruise missile in the TPK. The SPU 9P78-1 is used with the SPU 1 TPK mounted on one boom. testing started in May 2007
This system is intended only for the Russian Armed Forces. Tests were carried out in 2001-2005. Based on the universal two-missile SPU 9P78-1.
P.S. Based on the concept of a modular multifunctional complex, the launch units of the Iskander-M complex can use different fire weapons - cruise missiles (Iskander-K), including simultaneously (one arrow is a ballistic missile, the other is a cruise missile), operational-tactical missiles increased range, etc. A chassis based on the MZKT-7930 "Astrologer" made according to this concept by replacing modules can be quickly rebuilt for SPU of other types of fire weapons.
Launcher:
- experimental wheeled SPU Br-1555-1 /polygon prototype launcher(1991) - the development of prototypes of self-propelled units was carried out by the Titan Central Design Bureau. The prototype of the two-missile SPU Br-1555-1 was developed by the Titan Design Bureau on the basis of the BAZ-69501 chassis by 1991. At site 4C ("4-old") of the Strategic Missile Forces Kapustin Yar training ground (4th GCMP) in the summer of 1991 from installation Several throw-in launches were carried out (including two-missile salvo launches). In most sources, the Br-1555-1 SPU appears as a “mock-up test site sample” of the launcher. The development of the SPU on the BAZ-69501 chassis was not completed. Until 2011, we believed that there was a separate test site mock-up launcher, but, as it turned out, this was not true.
Experimental two-missile self-propelled launcher Br-1555-1 of the Iskander complex. Probably, the SPU is equipped with a missile version for throw-out launches. Kapustin Yar training ground, 1991 (photo from the archive of the user "Random", published on June 30, 2011).
The prototype of the SPU 9P76 chassis is the BAZ-69501 chassis (Vasiliev V. To the 40th anniversary of the Bryansk Automobile Plant. // Equipment and weapons. No. 2 / 1999).
During the first stage of testing at the Kapustin Yar test site, the launch of the complex’s missiles and the operation of launch systems were tested from this launcher. The peculiarity of the launch of the Iskander missile is the use of a lifting boom of the launcher and detachable missile mounting bands. After the lower ring of the bandage is released from the boom locks and the main plug connector is uncoupled, a command is issued to activate the squibs holding the bandages (two squibs for each bandage). The bandages are shot off, the holes for the mounting pins in the rocket body are closed with spring-loaded covers - in order to reduce the EPR of the rocket.
In the photograph of the launch of the Iskander missile, a cloud is clearly visible that arose as a result of the shooting of the upper yoke clip (Missile and artillery weapons. Catalog "Weapons of Russia". M., Military Parade, 2004).
Shooting the upper yoke clip during the launch of a 9M723K5 rocket, Kapustin Yar test site, 08/22/2011 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com).
- SPU 9P81- the index “9P81” has been replicated in some sources, but whether it has a real relation to the Iskander / Iskander-M complexes or is a fiction (error) has not been established.
- experimental wheeled SPU 9P76 on the BAZ-6954 chassis - The SPU was designed by the Titan Design Bureau (design bureau of the Barrikady plant), the first prototype 9P76 was manufactured in 1992. Presumably, the development of a new type of SPU on the new BAZ chassis was previously carried out in parallel with the development of the Br-1555-1 SPU. The SPU chassis was developed within the framework of the research project "Facet" of the Bryansk Automobile Plant Design Bureau on the basis of the BAZ-69501 chassis in 1990-1992, the head of the design bureau is V.B. Vyushkin, the chief designer of the chassis is V.P. Trusov (since 1997 - Yu.A. Shpak). The SPU is not floating, it carries one missile; in the front part of the body with the rocket there is a gas turbine electric generator that provides power to the SPU.
The first launch from the new SPU was carried out in the summer of 1992. Further, in 1992, tests were continued with a second launch. During 1993, 5 launches were carried out from SPU 9P76 No. 1. In 1994-1997 prototypes of the 9M723 missile, presumably with a cassette warhead, were tested from the SPU. In total, more than 10 launches were made. For testing, a total of 2 single-missile SPU 9P76 (samples No. 1 and No. 2) were manufactured on the BAZ-6954 chassis and 2 transport vehicles 9T246, probably on the same chassis. The tests were carried out at site 4C of the 4th State Medical Center Kapustin Yar. The second copy of the SPU 9P76 was used to test the rocket launcher and was used for launches at the Kapustin Yar test site a limited number of times.
TTX SPU 9P76:
Engines - 2 x diesel KamAZ-740 with a power of 210 hp each, each engine runs on its own side
Wheel formula - 8 x 8
Length - 11.3 m
Width - 3.08 m
Height - 3.05 m
Ground clearance - 470 mm
Total weight - 36000 kg
Curb weight - 18500 kg
Load capacity - 17100 kg
Highway speed - 60 km/h
Fuel range - 682 km
Calculation - 4 people
Experimental self-propelled launcher 9P76 of the Iskander complex, Kapustin Yar training ground, 1992-1996. (photo from the archive of the user "Random", published on June 30, 2011).
Experimental SPU 9P76 on the BAZ-6954 chassis at the Kapustin Yar training ground (TV show “Serving Russia!”, TV channel “Zvezda”, 12/17/2006)
Drawing of an experimental SPU 9P76 on a BAZ-6954 chassis, a lifting boom from the Oka complex is mistakenly drawn (probably the drawing was made on the basis of TV material from the Zvezda TV channel, http://www.military.cz).
Experimental self-propelled launcher 9P76 of the Iskander complex on the BAZ-6954 chassis, open museum of equipment at the Kapustin Yar training ground, summer 2016 (photo from the archive of the user "Sluchany", published 10/21/2016).
- wheeled SPU 9P78- after changing the concept of the Iskander complex, starting from 1993, work has been underway to redesign the SPU on the MZKT-7930 chassis for two launching booms with different types of combat load (OTR, KR). In 1995, a new SPU 9P78 was manufactured. Launches from it began in the same 1995. Later, SPU 9P78 was converted into SPU 9P78-1 - the body was modernized. Probably the reason for the modernization was the refusal to place some types of combat load on the complex.
- wheeled SPU 9P78-1(apparently not earlier than 1994) - MZKT-79301 chassis (two missiles on SPU with separate lifting booms). In our opinion, this is a prototype or the first series of the Iskander SPU on the MZKT chassis, the visible differences from the 9P78-1 are insignificant. It is possible that the SPU 9P78 can only launch 9M723 ballistic missiles. The installation was designed by the Titan Central Design Bureau (design bureau of the Barrikady plant). The MZKT-7930 "Astrologer" chassis was developed by SKB-1 of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in 1990 (prototype). Serial production of the chassis began in 1998. Chassis tests were carried out at the Kapustin Yar test site, test tracks of the NIIIAT RF Ministry of Defense and public roads. After a 30,000-mile run, the tractor was tested in a climate chamber at a temperature of -50°C, then in a wind tunnel, where resistance to shock waves was assessed.
SPU 9P78-1 version 1 with a 9M723 missile, in the pre-launch position the left of the two missiles, late 1990s - early 2000s (http://milparade.com, according to RIA Novosti, photo taken 11/07/2008 , which is not true).
- universal wheeled SPU 9P78-1 / 9P78-1E(serial modification, appearance - 2001-2005) on the MZKT-7930 chassis (apparently the MZKT-79305 model) "Astrologer" (two missiles on the SPU with separate lifting booms - ballistic or winged or a combination of ballistic and winged). The TZM 9T250 on the MZKT-79305 chassis carries two missiles and is equipped with a jib crane. The unit was designed by the Central Design Bureau "Titan" (design bureau of the "Barricades" plant) and produced by the "Barricades" Production Association (Volgograd) on the chassis of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (Minsk, Belarus). Serial production of SPU and TZM began in 2006, the production capabilities of the Barrikady PA, according to data for 2008, are 12 complexes per year. As of 2014 - 2 brigade sets per year.
The complex's vehicles are air transportable by An-124 class aircraft. In the front part of the body with missiles there is a gas turbine electric generator, which is part of the power and air conditioning unit (controlled from the driver's remote control). Presumably, a laser sighting optical system is placed in the body for placing the GPS missile in the launch plane and entering flight mission numbers into the on-board computer before launching in a horizontal position. Perhaps the SPU 9P78-1 differs from the 9P78 in that it can use both old and new types of missiles (see the stages of development of the complex above), and also, probably, the SPU 9P78-1 is universal and is used as part of the Iskander complexes -M" and "Iskander-K".
Engine - diesel YaMZ-846 with a power of 500 hp, manual gearbox YaMZ-202.04 (9/2) with clutch YaMZ-151-10, MZKT-79306 - diesel Deutz BF8M105C with a power of 544 hp. with 5-speed hydromechanical transmission Allison HD4560P.
Wheel formula - 8 x 8 (the first two axles are rotary)
Length - approx. 13070 mm
Width - 3070 mm
Height - approx. 3290 mm
Ground clearance - 400 mm
Tires - R25 with adjustable pressure
Gross weight - 40000-43200 kg (up to 45000 kg on the chassis)
Chassis curb weight - 21000 kg
Load capacity:
MZKT-79301 - 22200 kg
MZKT-79305 - 25000 kg
- MZKT-79306 - 24000 kg
Permissible axial mass (MZKT-79306):
- front axles - 21800 kg
- rear axles - 23200 kg
Highway speed - 70 km/h
Speed on dirt road - 40 km/h
Cross-country speed - 20 km/h
Fording depth - 1.4 m
Fuel range - 1000 km
Calculation - 3 people (2 people TZM)
Missile launch sector - 180 degrees.
Chassis MZKT-79306 is a close analogue of MZKT-79305 (Technique that knows no barriers. Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. Booklet, 2009).
SPU 9P78-1 version 2 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex, rehearsal of the Victory Parade in Moscow, 04/26/2011. The last two photos are 05/03/2011 (photo - Vitaly Kuzmin, http://vitalykuzmin.net).
SPU of the operational-tactical complex "Iskander-M" / "Iskander-K" at the 231st site of the 4th GCM training ground of the Russian Ministry of Defense, 2010 (4 interspecific: the 21st century begins. 4 GCM of the Russian Ministry of Defense, 2011.
SPU 9P78-1 board No. 811, probably the 630th ORDN after the missile launch, Kapustin Yar test site, 08/22/2011 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com).
Serial military SPU 9P78-1 of the Iskander-M complex. 26th Neman Red Banner Missile Brigade. 10.20.2011 (photo - Alexey Danichev, http://sputniknews.com).
SPU 9P78-1 with cruise missiles of the 9K720 Iskander-M missile system of the first production brigade set on the day of transfer of equipment to the 107th RBR. Kapustin Yar, 06/28/2013 (http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com).
SPU 9P78-1 version 2 and TZM 9T250 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex, rehearsal of the Victory Parade in Moscow, 05/03/2011 (photo - Andrey Kryuchenko, http://a-andreich.livejournal.com).
New SPU BAZ- in February 2007, at an off-site meeting of the military-industrial commission on the basis of NPO Almaz, the management of PA BAZ announced that on the basis of the Voshchina-1 chassis and/or on the basis of the developing promising Voshchina-2 chassis, a SPU would be created for complex "Iskander". No other information available.
Complex missiles.
Ballistic missile 9M723(the 9M728 cruise missile is described in a separate article - " "
):
Design single-stage missiles with an inseparable warhead. Much attention is paid to reducing the RCS - there are no protruding parts, holes and noticeable joints, the cable garrot is minimized as much as possible on the first versions of the rockets and is made in the form of a thin train on the surface of the rocket body on more modern series, the aerodynamic control surfaces are replaced with swept ones instead of lattice ones. A special heat-protective coating of the body is used, which can probably serve as a coating that reduces the ESR.
The 9M723-1 missile of the Iskander-M complex. Kubinka, Army 2015 forum, 06/17/2015 (photo - Sergey Karpukhin, Reuters).
The 9M723-1 missile of the Iskander-M complex. Kubinka, forum "Army 2016" (September 2016).
Projections of 9M723 missiles of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex (, 11/06/2016).
According to the scheme previously adopted for OTR complexes, the missile of the complex (for example, 9M723K5) includes a missile part (for example, 9M723) and a warhead (for example, 9N722K5).
According to information available in 2011, missile units 9M723 and 9M723-1 are mentioned.
A mock-up of the Iskander-E missile with the 9M723 missile part at the exhibition "Technologies in Mechanical Engineering - 2010", Moscow, 30.06 - 04.07.2010 (http://maks.sukhoi.ru).
Cable gargrot on the old model of the missile complex (on the left, probably 9M723) and on the new one (on the right, probably 9M723-1). Stills from the films "Strike Force".
Fragments of the design of the 9M723K5 rocket (probably). Stills from a report on the receipt of 9K720 Iskander-M systems by the 26th Missile Brigade in Luga, 10/21/2011 (NTV channel).
Training missile 9M723 during reloading from the TZM 9T250 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex to the SPU 9P87-1. Publication no later than 2015 (photo - Dmitry Rogulin,).
Presumably, during group launches of 9K720 Iskander-M complexes during the Center-2011 exercises, missiles with a 9M723-1 missile unit were used, Kapustin Yar training ground, 09/22/2011 (http://www.mil.ru).
Ballistic missile 9M723 of the 9K720 Iskander-M missile system in a transport container. The photo was taken at the ceremony of handing over the first serial brigade set of equipment of the 107th RBR. Kapustin Yar, 06/28/2013 (http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com).
The same moment - a frame from the TV channel "Zvezda" (http://www.mil.ru).
Containers 9YA293-E with missiles for the Iskander-E complexes of the Armenian armed forces (09/22/2016, footage from an Armenian television report).
Control and guidance system - The rocket's control system is autonomous inertial (developed by TsNIIAG, Moscow), the rocket is controlled by the control system throughout the entire flight. The control system is built on the basis of a gyro-stabilized platform (GSP) and a digital computer (analogue of DAVU OTR "Tochka"). When using missiles with a seeker, the on-board computer of the missile's inertial control system adjusts the trajectory according to the seeker data. Control is carried out using aerodynamic and gas-jet rudders and, probably, on the 9M723-1 rocket part gas-dynamically using shunting reusable solid propellant rocket engines or using a gas generator. The warhead is inseparable.
Deep modernization and experimental testing of the previously developed command gyroscopic device (a set of gyroscopic devices) for the Iskander / Iskander-M missiles was carried out by NPO Electromechanics (Miass). State tests were successfully completed in 2004. Serial production of gyroscopic devices is carried out there ( see - Annual report of JSC "NPO Electromechanics...", ).
Autocollimator (left) and automatic gyrocompass of the first SPU of the Iskander complex developed by the Arsenal Design Bureau (Kiev), footage from Ukrainian television.
The topographic reference system of the complex's launch unit can interact with space navigation systems such as NAVSTAR and GLONASS. Input of targeting data into missiles (alignment of the GPS in the launch plane and entry of flight mission numbers into the on-board computer) occurs automatically when the missiles are in a horizontal position inside the SPU, probably using an improved optical system for aligning the missile's GPS using a laser optical device (since on the SPU there are no light guides typical for light systems - see "Tochka" and "Oka"). Entering goal data takes little time and before the start, goal data can be adjusted based on information from an external source. With an interval of 1 minute, the complex can strike two missiles at two different targets. The flight trajectory is flat ("quasi-ballistic"), possibly with the ability to maneuver in some missile variants.
Automatic gyrocompass (AGC) supports in the central part of the SPU 9P78-1 ().
Probably wind sensors on SPU 9P78-1 board No. 811, apparently from the 630th ORDN. Kapustin Yar training ground, August 22, 2011 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com).
The GLONASS system equipment on the SPU type 9P78-1 is represented by a portable receiver-indicator 14Ts821 "Grot-V" ("portable"). The receiver indicator antenna is located on the roof of the SPU cabin. The product has been developed and mass-produced by the Research Institute of KP since 2001.
Probably the on-board digital computer (DAVU) of the Iskander missiles ( http://youtube.com)
Command-gyroscopic device (gyro-stabilized platform), automation unit and on-board computer (DAVU) on 9M723 missiles of the Iskander complex. Photo from the area of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict (August 2008) and a still from the films of the “Strike Force” series ( http://youtube.com)
Porthole of the optical aiming system of the gyroscopic devices of the 9M723 missile (http://militaryphotos.net).
Probably the optical aiming system of the missile's gyroscopic devices on the SPU 9P78 (frame from the promotional film of the Central Design Bureau "Titan", http://youtube.com)
For comparison, systems similar in purpose are installed on the control systems of the Oka (left) and Tochka-U (right) complexes.
Internal structure of the Iskander-M complex equipped with the R-500 SPU 9P78-1 cruise missile, Kapustin Yar, 10/30/2015 (video footage from the Russian Ministry of Defense, http://mil.ru).
Presumably a standard theodolite for maintenance of the SPU targeting system at a firing range position. Sighting is carried out on the base reflector of the automatic gyrocompass and then, through a second portable theodolite, in several steps the reference point is snapped and the azimuth of the base launch direction is checked. The photo shows the SPU of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex during launches to test a new type of combat equipment, Kapustin Yar training ground, 10/11/2011 (Zvezda TV channel).
In addition to missiles with an inertial control system, missiles with seekers of two types can also be used, which are activated at the final stage of flight (according to our assessment, they are not in service as of 2009, they are probably being tested starting in 2004 or later). The seeker at the final section of the trajectory corrects the operation of the inertial control system of the rocket (estimated, cannot be used on the Iskander-E):
- radar correlation seeker- developed by TsNIIAG (Moscow) in the late 1980s on the topic “Volga”, the missile is aimed by comparing a digital map of the area in the target area and radar seeker data;
- optical correlation seeker 9E436 - developed by TsNIIAG (Moscow), the missile is aimed at a reference image of the target, similar to the seeker of the 8K14-1F missile. The GOS was presented for the first time at the Eurosatory-2004 exhibition.
GOS mass - 20 kg
Flight task entry time - no more than 5 minutes
KVO - up to 20 m
Optical seeker 9E436 for OTR "Iskander" at the TsNIIAG stand at the MVSV-2004 exhibition
- radar active seeker 9B918 - developed and produced by NPP "Radar MMS" as of 2009. In 2009, serial production of 22 primary information processing units for the seeker 9B918 of 9M723-1F missiles is planned in 2010-2011.
Option 1 (possibly 9N722K1 or another) - cassette warhead - R&D - Design Bureau of the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. Weight 480 kg, 54 combat elements, warhead deployment height - 900-1400 m, combat element activation height - 6-10 m, the use of this type of warhead with an optical or radar correlation seeker is assessed by us as unlikely.
Types of combat elements:
1. fragmentation non-contact
2. cumulative fragmentation
3. self-aiming
4. volumetric detonating
Option 2 (possibly 9N722K1 or another) - cassette warhead with 45 9N730 combat elements developed and produced by GosNIIMash (Dzerzhinsk) with a central explosive charge (CRZ) 9N731. As of 2008, it is in serial production in the experimental workshop 4510 of GosNIIMash (production of 16 sets of equipment per year). In 2009, the labor intensity of manufacturing the 9N730 combat element was 16.23 standard hours, the CRZ - 30 standard hours. Proximity fuses 9E156 "Umbrella" for combat elements of cassette warheads were developed by the Research Institute of Electronic Devices (Novosibirsk,).
- Rocket 9M723-1F / 9M723-1FE- a missile with a radar seeker 9B918 developed and produced by NPP Radar MMS. Developed as of 2009
- Complex 9K720E "Iskander-E", missile 9M720E / 9M723E- export modification of the complex with SPU 9P78-1E,
- Complex "Iskander-MKR"- During the IMDS-2005 exhibition, it was announced that a sea-based missile would be created on the basis of the Iskander OTR.
- Rocket 9M723, version 2016- in September-October 2016, a rocket was launched at the Kaputsin Yar test site, the footage of which was posted on Youtube in October 2016. The rocket in appearance differs from the previously known versions of the 9M723 rocket.
Missile type 9M723 version 2016 (video footage from Youtube).
DATA FOR 2017 (standard update, v.2)
SPU 9P78-1 with 9M723 ballistic missiles of the 9K720 Iskander-M missile system of the first production brigade set on the day of transfer of equipment to the 107th RBR. Kapustin Yar, 06/28/2013 (http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com).
Composition and staffing structure of the Iskander-M complex:
The complex includes:
- SPU 9P78-1 for 2 missiles;
SPU 9P78-1 of the Iskander-M complex at a display of military equipment as part of the Ural Arms Exhibition, Nizhny Tagil, 2000 (http://militaryphotos.net).
SPU 9P78-1 with a mock-up of the 9M723 missile. 26th Neman Red Banner Missile Brigade. 10/20/2011 (http://www.mil.ru).
TZM 9T250 / 9T250E for 2 missiles, equipped with a jib crane; According to some unconfirmed data, in an extreme situation the TZM of the complex can launch missiles - probably we are talking about launching from some kind of launch pad in the back of the TZM.
Chassis - MZKT-7930
Calculation - 2 people
Weight - 40000 kg
Crane lifting capacity - 5800 kg
Highway speed - 70 km/h
Fuel range - 1000 km
Overload time for one rocket - 16 minutes
TZM 9T250 (photo and drawing "KBM", drawing - photo from MVSV-2010 from Denis KA, http://forums.airbase.ru)
Loading the SPU of the Iskander-M 9P78-1 complex with the 9T250 TZM with a 9M723 training rocket. The first photo shows TZM 9T250. Demonstration exercises of the 26th Neman Red Banner Missile Brigade. 10/20/2011 (http://www.mil.ru).
Rigging equipment TZM 9T250 of the Iskander-M complex. Kubinka, Army 2015 forum, 06/17/2015 (photo - Sergey Karpukhin, Reuters).
Command and staff vehicle 9S552 / 9S552E on a KamAZ chassis - provides control of fire weapons of a battery or division; provides communication between departments, receiving target designation from external and higher structures;
Calculation - 4 people
Automated workstations - 4
Radio communication range - 50 km (on the march), 350 km (while parked).
Number of communication channels - up to 16
Data transmission and reception speed - up to 16 kbit/s (radio modem, radio stations)
Time standard for calculating a combat mission - 10 s
Time standard for transmitting commands to the PPI - 15 s
Temporary standard for complete deployment and collapse of external antennas - 30 min
Information preparation point 9S920 / 9S920E on the KamAZ-43101 chassis - ensures the preparation of information for striking, prepares information for the correlation type seeker;
Calculation - 4 people
Automated workstations - 2
Number of communication channels - up to 16
Information transmission and reception speed - up to 16 kbit/s (radio modem, radio stations R-168-100KAE "Aqueduct" produced by the Yaroslavl Radio Plant )
Time standard for determining the coordinates of the target point - 30-120 s
The time standard for issuing target designation commands to the SPU is 60 s
Continuous operation time - 48 hours
Vehicle information preparation point 9С920 on the KamAZ-43101 chassis (photo by KBM)
The regulatory and maintenance vehicle on the KamAZ-43101 chassis is used to carry out routine and inspection work on missiles with and without removing them from the container. A study of the missile design shows that routine maintenance on 9M723 type missiles can be carried out in any position - on the launcher, in the TZM, on arsenal equipment carts. Plug connectors for missile testing are located on the front bonding ring.
Calculation - 2 people
Weight - 13500 kg
Deployment time on the move - 20 min
Rocket check time - 18 minutes
Regulatory and maintenance vehicle on KamAZ-43101 chassis (photo by KBM)
Life support vehicle 9T248 on KamAZ-5350 chassis
Life support machine 2T248 (photo by KBM)
Life support machine 2T248 (photo Melnikov A.E., 2015, )
A set of arsenal equipment - containers for transporting and storing warheads and missile units, traverses, carts and cradles.
Standard structure of units with Iskander-M complexes:
The Iskander complexes have been consolidated into missile brigades of 2-3 divisions. it is possible to form a separate missile division. The division includes 2-3 missile batteries, a KShM and a PPI. The missile battery includes 2-3 complexes (2-3 SPU + 1 TZM), KShM. As of 2009, it was announced that there would be 2 battalions in the Russian Armed Forces. According to our assessment, the most likely is a 2-divisional composition of the RBR - in this case, one RBR should contain 8 SPU of the complex, which allows the desired number of RBR to be deployed as quickly as possible in conditions of minimal growth in the production of missiles and systems of the complex.
The first military missile brigade was fully equipped with the complexes in 2010. According to the program for equipping the Russian Armed Forces with new equipment and weapons until 2020, it is planned to equip missile brigades with 12 Iskander-M complexes. This means that a full-fledged brigade includes three missile divisions of 2 batteries, 2 complexes each ().
Brigade kit model 2014-2015 includes:
- 12 launchers
- 12 transport-charging vehicles
- 11 command and staff vehicles
- 14 life support machines
- 1 regulation and maintenance machine
- 1 point of information preparation.
A total of 51 units of equipment. The brigade is also equipped with missile ammunition, an arsenal kit, and training equipment (,).
Status: Russia:
1996 May 10 - the missile and SPU of the complex were shown to Russian President B.N. Yeltsin during his visit to the 4th State Central Test Site of the Russian Defense Ministry Kapustin Yar.
1998 December 25 - The FSB arrested two private entrepreneurs from Kolomna and a KBM employee for attempting to transfer secret documentation on the 9M723 product to Western intelligence services.
2000 July 11 - the Iskander-E complex (on the MZKT-7930 chassis) was presented at the Ural Expo ARMZ-2000 exhibition in Nizhny Tagil. At the exhibition, information was announced that a total of 2 Iskander complexes had been produced by industry and were being tested.
2004 - a contract was concluded for the supply of 18 Iskander-E complexes to Syria, later canceled under pressure from the United States and Israel. It was assumed that delivery would be made in 2007-2008. The plan for the supply of Iskander complexes to the Russian Armed Forces for 2004 is 4 units (division, no confirmation of implementation). A plan for 2005 has been announced - it is planned to put into service 2 Iskander-M complexes.
March 2005 - the first 9K720 complexes entered service with the 630th separate missile division of the 60th Combat Use Center (Kapustin Yar, apparently 2 units, according to media reports it was planned to deliver 3 units in 2005). The full complement of a separate missile division was completed by January 2007. It is planned to begin arming missile brigade complexes: composition - 3 missile divisions, each with three batteries - each with 3 launchers and support equipment - in total, the missile brigade includes 27 complexes and 100 missiles for them . Incl. it is planned to equip the 103rd ORBR of the Siberian Military District and the 107th ORBR of the Far Eastern Military District with the complexes (as of 2009, the re-equipment of these brigades has not begun or is not reported).
July 2006 - Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov stated that in 2007-1015. The Russian Armed Forces will receive 60 Iskander-M complexes and 120 missiles for them (5 missile brigades). Consequently, the composition of the brigade is 2-3 divisions, 2 batteries each, 2 SPUs per battery = most likely, 12 SPUs per RBR.
2006 - the Iskander-M complex was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces. By 2015, it is planned to equip 5 RBRs (individual missile brigades) with the complex and complete the deployment of the group (60 SPU). According to media reports, 4 complexes were delivered to the Russian Armed Forces during the year. Total - maximum, 7 complexes in the Russian Armed Forces (doubtful).
2007 January - completion of the 630th ORDN with Iskander-M complexes produced by Barrikady PA - 2 batteries of 2 complexes each (total - 4 complexes in ORDN and, probably, in the Russian Armed Forces).
May 29, 2007 - Iskander and R-500 missiles were launched at the Kapustin Yar test site (the latter was the first launch). Information appeared in the media about the completion of tests of the Iskander-K complex with the R-500 cruise missile at the Kapustin Yar test site. Range - 500 km, cruising speed - 230-260 m/s, flight duration - 24 minutes, warhead weight 500 kg, CEP - about 1 m, engine - economical turbofan engine, expected to be put into service in 2009. State tests of R- missiles 500 is planned to start in 2008.
SPU 9P78-1 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex of the 630th missile division. Probably an SPU with a 9M723K5 missile, Kapustin Yar training ground, 08/22/2007 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com).
2007 - the media stated that the 92nd separate missile brigade of the Volga-Ural Military District and the 107th separate missile brigade of the Far Eastern Military District began to arm themselves with 9K720 systems. The brigade is expected to be completed by 2011. According to media reports, 4 complexes were delivered to the Russian Armed Forces during the year (the figure 3 units is also found). Total - probably, 7-8 complexes in the Russian Armed Forces.
May 9, 2008 - a missile division of the SPU and TZM Iskander complexes, probably the 630th ORN of the North Caucasus Military District, took part in the parade on Red Square in Moscow.
SPU of the Iskander-M complex at the parade on May 9, 2008 in Moscow (photo by Andrey Kuzmin, taken from the website http://militaryparitet.com)
- 2008 August 12 - there is information, unconfirmed by the Russian side, about the use of the Iskander OTR with a cluster warhead in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict by Russian troops (against the base of a tank battalion in Gori, Georgia). Perhaps the complexes were used by the 630th ORDN of the North Caucasus Military District.
November 5, 2008 - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a statement that it is planned to deploy an Iskander missile brigade in the Kaliningrad region to neutralize US missile defense systems that were supposed to be deployed in Poland.
December 2008 - production plans for 2009-2011 were announced. - it is planned to supply 30 Iskander missiles to the Russian Armed Forces (and probably 4 complexes per year).
2008 - according to media reports, 4 complexes were delivered to the Russian Armed Forces during the year (the figure 3 units is also found). Total - probably, 10-12 complexes in the Russian Armed Forces (630th ORDN, and probably ORDN of district training centers and 1-2 incomplete RBR).
2009 May 9 - the 630th ORDN of the North Caucasus Military District with a full set of SPU and TZM complexes "Iskander-M" took part in the parade on Red Square in Moscow.
2009 June 17 - Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Nikolai Makarov stated that the rearmament of units of the North Caucasus Military District and the Kaliningrad Special Region will be completed by 2012.
September 19, 2009 - Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Vladimir Popovkin in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station stated that after the United States refused to deploy a missile defense system in Europe, a decision was made not to deploy Iskander missile systems in the Kaliningrad region.
September 29, 2009 - Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, Army General Vladimir Boldyrev, announced that Iskander missile brigades would arrive in all military districts of Russia. The first brigade will be fully staffed in 2010.
2009 October 20 - a notice was published about an open competition for the right to conclude an agreement to carry out work on the development of design documentation: "Reconstruction and technical re-equipment of the FSUE Votkinsk Plant, Votkinsk, Udmurt Republic, to ensure serial production of Iskander-M products ". The estimated cost of re-equipment of production is 308 million rubles, the completion date of the re-equipment according to the plan is 2012.
November 6, 2009 - the head of the missile forces and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Sergei Bogatinov, announced that one of the missile brigades of the Russian ground forces by the end of 2010 will be completely re-equipped with Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems.
November 12, 2009 - in his annual message to the Federal Assembly, President Dmitry Medvedev stated that in 2010 the Russian Armed Forces will receive 5 Iskander complexes. Previously, officials stated that in 2010 it is planned to purchase 3 complexes and 13 missiles for them.
2009 end of the year - according to media reports, during the year 4 complexes were delivered to the Russian Armed Forces (at least 3 units according to our estimate). Total - probably 8-9-16 complexes in the Russian Armed Forces (taking into account possible failures to fulfill plans in previous years).
- 2010 February 25 - Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General Alexander Postnikov, stated that during 2010 the missile brigade of the Leningrad Military District (meaning the 26th RBR) will be armed with Iskander complexes.
July 17, 2010 - Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General Alexander Postnikov, announced that the missile brigade of the Leningrad Military District received the first Iskander OTR complex.
December 14, 2010 - Commander of the Western Military District Arkady Bakhin announced that the Western Military District had adopted Iskander missile systems. Later () information appeared that in 2010 the armament of 12 Iskander-M complexes of the first military missile brigade was completed.
Probably the 630th ORDN is preparing for the parade on Red Square in Moscow, 05/09/2011 (montage of photographs by Renat Dunyashov, http://taek.livejournal.com).
- 2011 August 01 - Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia D. Bulgakov stated that in total it is planned to accept 120 Iskander complexes (12 per brigade) into service with the Russian Armed Forces. It also became known that the 26th RBR is fully equipped with Iskander complexes, and also that in 2010, 6 Iskander complexes were delivered to the Russian Armed Forces.
2011 August 4 - signing of contract Z/3/1/24-11-DGOZ for the supply of Iskander-M missile systems in brigade sets of two sets per year ()
2011 September 22 - during the command and staff exercises "Center-2011", held including at the 4th Main Central Interspecific Test Site Kapustin Yar, group launches of the Iskander-M, " " and MLRS "Smerch" were carried out. A total of two missiles similar to the 9M723K5 missiles were launched.
Operation of the SPU 9P78-1 battery during a group launch of the OTR type 9M723K5 or similar 9K720 Iskander-M complex during the Tsentr-2011 exercises, Kapustin YaR training ground, 09/22/2011 (http://www.mil.ru ).
Launches from SPU 9P78-1 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex, Kapustin Yar training ground, 08/22/2011 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com).
Group launch of OTR type 9M723K5 or similar complexes 9K720 "Iskander-M" and OTR 9M79 complexes 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" during the exercises "Center-2011", Kapustin Yar training ground, 08/22/2011 (http://www .mil.ru).
- 2011 October 5 - a photo of the SPU 9P78-1 from the 26th Missile Brigade appeared on the Internet.
- 2011 October 11 - at the Kapustin Yar test site, a test launch of a missile with a new type of combat equipment was carried out with one of the experimental SPU 9P78-1 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex. Over the entire period of its operation, 27 missile launches were carried out from this SPU.
October 21, 2011 - Information appeared in the media that the 26th Missile Brigade (Luga, Western Military District) was re-equipped with 9K720 Iskander-M systems. Several media reports say that the first brigade of the Russian Armed Forces is armed with Iskander-M complexes.
November 14, 2011 - the media reported a successful test of the 9M723 missile with a correlation optical seeker. KVO is called at the level of 5 meters. In 2012, the tested complex with a new type of missile will be transferred from the 60th combat use center in Kapustin Yar to the 26th Neman Missile Brigade (Luga).
July 3, 2012 - RIA Novosti, citing the Russian President, reports that by 2020, as part of the State Armaments Program, 10 Iskander-M “brigade missile systems” will be delivered to the ground forces. We are probably talking about brigade kits. According to media reports, one brigade set includes 12 SPU complexes.
2012 September 17-23 - the Caucasus-2012 maneuvers are planned to be held at the Prudboy, Kapustin Yar, Ashuluk and Raevskoye training grounds, within the framework of which it is planned, incl. carrying out firing of combat missiles of the Iskander complex ().
November 22, 2012 - on the official website of the Ministry of Defense it is reported that Iskander missile systems were delivered to parts of the Southern Military District in the Volgograd Region and Krasnodar Territory during 2012.
February 9, 2013 - Commander of the 20th Army of the Western Military District, Major General Alexander Lapin, told the media that the Iskander-M complexes () will soon enter service with the army.
February 12, 2013 - Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, Colonel General Vladimir Chirkin, inspected the Mikhailovsky Military Artillery Academy, where specialists are trained to work on the Iskander missile systems ().
SPU 9P78-1 of the Iskander-M missile system, Moscow, preparation for the parade, May 7, 2013 (photo - pfc-joker, http://pfc-joker.livejournal.com).
- 2013 May 15 - information appeared in the media with reference to a representative of the Ministry of Defense about plans to deploy Iskander-M missile systems at the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri (Armenia).
2013 June 24 - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov announced that in 2013 the delivery of the “first brigade sets of complexes” will begin. Previously, manufacturers of various elements of the Iskander complex supplied their products to the troops independently: command and staff vehicles, launchers, as well as missile warheads and launch vehicles were supplied separately. “In 2013, it is planned to deliver the first brigade sets (Iskander OTRK),” Borisov told RIA Novosti.
- 2013 September 22 - the missile brigade of the Western Military District (probably the 26th Neman Red Banner Missile Brigade, Luga) carried out successful training firing of the Iskander-M missile system ().
RK "Iskander-M" at shooting in Luga, Leningrad region. The second frame shows cloudy conditions from shooting the rope clip. 09.22.2013 (footage from the Zvezda TV channel, http://function.mil.ru).
- 2013 October 07 - The Ministry of Defense reports that by the end of the year the Iskander-M missile launchers will arrive in parts of the Southern Military District.
November 14, 2013 - at the Kapustin Yar training ground, a brigade set of Iskander-M missile systems () was handed over to the personnel of one of the missile brigades of the Russian Ground Forces. The brigade kit was transferred to the brigade of the Southern Military District. In general, starting from 2013, it is planned to transfer two brigade sets per year to the armed forces ().
SPU 9P78-1 with 9M723 ballistic missiles and R-500 cruise missiles of the 9K720 Iskander-M missile system of the second serial brigade set on the day of transfer of equipment to the 1st RBR. Kapustin Yar, November 14, 2013 (http://vk34.ru/).
SPU 9P78-1 with R-500 cruise missiles of the 9K720 Iskander-M missile system of the second serial brigade set on the day of transfer of equipment to the 1st RBR. Kapustin Yar, November 14, 2013 (http://vk34.ru/, video report).
- 2013 November 14 - KBM General Designer V.M. Kashin at the ceremony of handing over the brigade set of Iskander-M complexes in Kapustin Yar said that today 5 types of missiles have been created for the complex and 3 more types of missiles are in development () .
December 15, 2013 - the German weekly Bild, with reference to satellite images, reports the deployment of at least 10 Iskander-M missile systems in the Kaliningrad region - in Kaliningrad, as well as along the borders with the Baltic states (). On December 16, in a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said: “The deployment areas of Iskander missile divisions on the territory of the Western Military District (WMD) do not contradict international agreements” (). Thus, the fact of missile deployment has not been refuted, but it has not been confirmed either.
2013 December 18 - the first division of the brigade set of Iskander-M complexes arrived in Krasnodar at the location of the 1st Guard. rocket Orsha orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov brigade (formerly 114th RBR,).
December 19, 2013 - at a press conference it was stated that the decision on the deployment of Iskander-M missile systems in Kaliningrad has not yet been made. Thus, it is likely that there were either no missile systems at all or they were temporarily located in the Kaliningrad region.
February 11, 2014 - The media report on the ongoing development of a new missile for the Iskander-M complex by the KBM without specifying the specifications of the missile ().
July 8, 2014 - a brigade set of Iskander-M missile systems (12 SPU, ) was handed over to the missilemen of the Western Military District in Kapustin Yar.
May 20, 2015 - The leadership of Ukraine states in the media that 10 Iskander-M missile systems are deployed in Crimea (the area of the village of Shchelkovo - Cape Kazantip and the city of Krasnoperekopsk). The first mention of the deployment in the Ukrainian media dates back to December 2014. According to media reports, a total of 3 missile divisions are planned to be deployed. Additional deployment points are the city of Dzhankoy and the village of Chernomorskoye ().
2015, end of July - a missile brigade stationed in the Krasnodar Territory (probably the 1st Guards Missile Brigade) will conduct exercises at the Karustin Yar training ground with combat launches of Iskander-M missiles at a range of up to 300 km ().
2015 September 15 - at the Kapustin Yar training ground, the crew of the missile formation of the Southern Military District carried out combat launches of Iskander-M missiles at targets 300 km away ().
October 30, 2015 - the R-500 cruise missile of the Iskander-M complex was launched at the Kapustin Yar training ground. The launch was carried out as part of an exercise for the strategic forces control system of the Russian Armed Forces (http://mil.ru).
Launch of the R-500 cruise missile of the Iskander-M complex from the Kapustin Yar training ground as part of the exercise of the strategic forces control system of the Russian Armed Forces, October 30, 2015 (video footage from the Russian Ministry of Defense, http://mil.ru).
Still from the TV show “Serving Russia!” TV channel "Zvezda" dated March 27, 2016, which depicts an object similar to SPU 9P78-1 of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex on the territory of the Khmeimim airbase, Syria.
- 2016 April 19 - as part of military exercises at the Kapustin Yar training ground, the Iskander-M OTRK cruise missile was launched. The missile hit the target at a distance of 200 km from the launch point. The military camp training took about a month. The launch of Iskander-M was the final point in a large-scale training, in which more than 400 military personnel and 70 pieces of military equipment took part ().
2016 June 28 - another brigade set of Iskander-M complexes (51 vehicles) was transferred to the missile forces of the ground forces of the Eastern District (5th Combined Arms Army) at the Kapustin Yar training ground ().
Receipt of complexes"Iskander" / "Iskander-M" in the Russian Armed Forces* (version dated June 28, 2016):
| Year | Admission | Total | Source of information, note |
| 2004 | plan 4 fact 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 | plan 2-3 fact 3 | 3 | March 2005, entered service with the 630th separate missile division of the 60th Combat Use Center (Kapustin Yar) |
| 2006 | plan - 4? | 4 ? | according to media reports, the data is questionable |
| 2007 | plan - 3-4 fact - 0? | 4 | in January, the installation of 4 Iskander-M complexes of the 630th order was completed, |
| 2008 | plan - 3-4 fact - 3 | 7 | data on supplies of complexes from the media |
| 2009 | plan - 3-4 fact - 3 | 10 | data on supplies of complexes from the media |
| 2010 | plan 3 fact 6 | 16 | Statement by Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia D. Bulgakov 08/01/2011. Perhaps 6 complexes - total supply 2009-2010. |
| 2011 | plan 6? fact - 0 | 16 | Analysis and serial production were not carried out at JSC Votkinsk Plant. Perhaps there were no supplies. |
| 2012 | plan 6? fact - 0 | 16 | Analysis, serial production at Votkinsk Plant OJSC is planned for the amount of 2.4 billion rubles, the complexes are expected to be delivered to the 20th Army of the Western Military District. Perhaps there were no supplies. |
| 2013 | plan - 24 fact - 24 | 40 | - 06/28/2013 the first of two (in 2013) brigade sets of the missile system was transferred to the ground forces - 12 SPU (3 divisions of 2 batteries and 2 SPU each) - 107 ORB (Birobidzhan). It is stated that the delivery of “brigade sets of complexes” will begin in 2013 and that the completion of the armament program for 10 missile brigades is possible before 2018. - 11/14/2013 - the second brigade set of complexes produced in 2013 was transferred to the Kapustin Yar missile brigade of the Southern Military District - the 1st Guards Orsha Missile Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov brigade (Krasnodar). |
| 2014 | plan - 24 fact - 24 (11/18/2014) | 64 | On July 8, a brigade set of Iskander-M complexes (112th Guards Missile Brigade (Shuya)) was transferred to the Western Military District. |
| 2015 | plan - 24 fact - 24 (11/18/2015) | 88 | Assumption according to the statement of the management of KBM dated June 28, 2013. July 15 - a brigade set of Iskander-M complexes was transferred to the 103rd separate missile Red Banner Order of Kutuzov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky brigade of the 36th combined arms army of the Eastern Military District, stationed in Ulan-Ude. The transfer took place in Kapustin Yar. |
| 2016 | plan - 24 fact - 12 (06/28/2016) | 112 | Assumption according to the statement of the management of KBM dated June 28, 2013. June 28 - the brigade set was transferred to the brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern District. |
| 2017 | plan - 12? | 124 | Assumption according to the statement of the management of KBM dated June 28, 2013. |
| 2018 | 120 | Possible implementation of plans for 2011 according to the statement of the KBM management dated June 28, 2013. | |
| 2020 | plan +40? | 120 | by the specified date, according to the statement dated 07/03/2012. |
As part of the Russian Armed Forces According to our data, they are armed with Iskander / Iskander-M complexes (data as of 11/09/2016, incomplete):
| Military unit | Military district | Number of SPU | Start acquisition | Completion acquisition | Explanations |
| 630th separate missile division of the 60th Combat Use Center (Znamensk-6, Kapustin Yar training ground) | Southern District (formerly North Caucasian), subordination of the part - central | 4 | March 2005 | January 2007 | the first part armed with 9K720 complexes July 2014 is the planned commissioning date for park equipment storage facilities in Znamensk 13017 and 13021 (Spetsstroy of Russia, reference report). |
| 26th Neman Red Banner Missile Brigade of the 6th Army (Luga), military unit 54006 | Western District (formerly Leningradsky) | 12 | 2008/2009 (plan 2007) really - July 2010 | plan - 2012 (based on indirect evidence, 2009-2010) July 2011 (fact) 10/21/2011 (announced in the media) | 2009 - according to media reports, completed, 2010 is planned to be completely re-equipped. The brigade was fully equipped with Iskander systems in July 2011. On August 22, 2011, brigade personnel and possibly 2 or 4 SPU took part in training launches at the Kapustin Yar training ground as part of the Center-2011 exercise. in 2012, complexes with 9M723 missiles with optical correlation seekers will be transferred to the brigade (not confirmed). July 2014 is the planned commissioning date for the park equipment storage facility 1/L-25 (Spetsstroy of Russia, reference report). |
| 107th separate missile brigade of the 35th Army (Birobidzhan / Semistochny village) | Eastern (formerly Far Eastern) | 12 | 2007 (2005 plans) | 2011 (plan) 06/28/2013 (fact) | It was announced that recruitment would begin in March 2005. On June 28, 2013, the transfer of the first complete brigade set of Iskander-M complexes to the brigade was completed. July 2014 is the planned commissioning date for the park storage facility for equipment P-3/11 (Spetsstroy of Russia, reference report). |
| 1st Guards Rocket Orsha Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov Brigade of the 49th Army (formerly 114th RBR, Krasnodar) | Southern District (formerly North Caucasian) | 12 | 2012 | 2012 (plan) November 14, 2013 (fact) | 2011 - the missile brigade was reassigned to the 49th Combined Arms Army () RBR of the 2nd division composition, according to our assessment, on November 22, 2012, the website of the Ministry of Defense reported that in 2012, deliveries of the Iskander missile system began to parts of the Southern Military District The first division (out of three) arrived at the place of deployment in the village of Molkino on December 17, 2013 () July 2014 is the planned date for commissioning the park equipment storage facility in the villages of Molkino 13009 and Mozdok 13011 (Spetsstroy of Russia, reference report). |
| 112th Guards Rocket Brigade (Shuya) 1st Tank Army | Western District (formerly Moscow) | 12 | 2014 | 07/08/2014 (fact) | The re-equipment of the unit was planned for 2009. 07/08/2014 A brigade set of Iskander-M complexes was transferred to the missile unit of the Western Military District in Kapustin Yar. February 2015 is the planned commissioning date for the park storage facility for equipment 107/603 (Spetsstroy of Russia, reference report). |
| 92nd Missile Brigade (Totskoye-2, Orenburg, formerly Kamenka near Penza) of the 2nd Combined Arms Army | Privolzhsko-Uralsky | 12 | It was planned to begin recruitment in 2007 | 2011 (2010 plan) 11/18/2014 (fact) | Deliveries were planned in 2010 November 18, 2014 A brigade set of Iskander-M complexes was transferred to the missile unit in Kapustin Yar July 2014 is the planned commissioning date for the park equipment storage facility in the village of Totskoye-2 TC-ISK (Spetsstroy of Russia, reference report). |
| 103rd separate rocket Red Banner orders of Kutuzov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky brigade of the 36th combined arms army (Drovyanaya settlement, Ulan-Ude) | Eastern (formerly Siberian) | 12 | no data | plan - 2015 until the end of the year () 07/15/2015 | It was announced that recruitment would begin in March 2005. On July 15, 2015, a brigade set of Iskander-M complexes was transferred to the missile unit in Kapustin Yar - 51 units. technology |
| 12th (new) missile brigade as part of the 58th combined arms army (Mozdok, ) | Southern | 12 | no data | until the end of 2015 Kuwait - as of 2008, negotiations are underway on possible supplies (Rosoboronexport, interview with N. Dimidyuk); Malaysia - according to Rosoboronexport (interview with N. Dimidyuk) is interested in supplying the Iskander-E OTR. The United Arab Emirates - according to Rosoboronexport (interview with N. Dimidyuk) is interested in supplying the Iskander-E OTR. Saudi Arabia: Singapore - as of 2008, negotiations are underway on possible supplies (Rosoboronexport, interview with N. Dimidyuk); Syria - 2004 - a contract was concluded for the supply of Iskander-E to Syria, later canceled by President Vladimir Putin under pressure from the United States and Israel. It was assumed that delivery would be made in 2007-2008. In February 2007, information appeared about a likely supply starting in 2007 through Belarus Http://www.gosniimash.ru http://test.rosb.ru, 2010 Shunkov V.N., Missile weapons. Minsk, Potpourri, 2003 GlobalSecurity.org. Website http://www.globalsecurity.org, 2010 Zaloga Steven J., Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005. Osprey Publishing. 2006 |
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