Launch of Russian Iskander-M missile was performed at the Lohour training ground in Tajikistan on June 1, according to Russian TASS news agency.
Citing Colonel Yaroslav Roshchupkin, an aide to the commander of the Russian Central Military District, TASS reported that the missile had been fired “at a camp of simulated terrorists based in the mountains.”
For the first time Moscow has moved this type of missile to Tajikistan.
Russian ballistic missile complexes Iskander-M were airlifted to Tajikistan on May 25 for participation in the CIS anti-terrorism exercise, dubbed Dushanbe-Anti-Terror 2017. The complexes were reportedly airlifted to Tajikistan by AN-124-100s of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The Iskander-M missile system was officially adopted by the Russian Army in 2006. As of 2017 Russian Army reportedly operates 112 of these missile systems. At least one launcher was deployed in Syria. In 2016 Iskander-E ballistic missiles were delivered to Armenia.
The Iskander road mobile missile system is equipped with two short-range ballistic missiles, which substantially increases firepower of missile units. Each missile can be targeted independently. These missiles are capable of hitting moving targets, as target coordination can be adjusted while the missile is in-flight. The Iskander has several different conventional warheads, including cluster, fuel-air explosive, bunker-busting and electro-magnetic pulse. It can also carry nuclear warheads despite the fact that this will violate the INF treaty. Maximum range of fire is 280 km for the Iskander-E downgraded export version and 400 km for the Iskander-M Russian Army version. Minimum range is 50 km.
The Iskander was designed to overcome air defense systems. Missile ravels at supersonic speed. In the terminal phase of the flight it excessively maneuvers and releases decoys. In some cases this ballistic missile can be used as an alternative to precision bombing.
Missiles can be launched 16 minutes from traveling or 4 minutes from highest readiness. The second missile can be launched in less than a minute once the first missile is launched.
The Dushanbe-Anti-Terror 2017 drill in Tajikistan draws particular attention internationally because of the country’s long border with Afghanistan and activity along that front in recent months.
