Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Russia has formed an Iskander missile brigade in its region bordering new NATO member Finland, while another alliance ... The 9K720 Iskander (Russian: «Искандер»; NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone) is a family of Russian mobile short-range ballistic missile systems.

Understanding the Context

The basic M model has a range of 500 kilometres (270 nmi; 310 mi). It was intended to replace the OTR-21 Tochka in the Russian military by 2020. The 9K720 Iskander (NATO: SS-26 “Stone”) is a road-mobile short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a range of up to 500 km. Using a common transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) and support vehicles, the system can also fire the 9M728 (R-500, SSC-7) and 9M729 (SSC-8) cruise missiles.

Key Insights

Iskander Missile SS-26 Stone is a short-range tactical missile system developed and produced in Russia. The system replaces the Oka SS-23 SPIDER which had been terminated under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. There are two versions of the missile, the Iskander-M and the Iskander-E, the latter solely for export. The Iskander-M was operationalized in 2006 and is currently fielded by the Russian Army. In this comprehensive post, we’ll dive into the history, development, and technical specifications of the 9k720 Iskander missile, including its various variants like Iskander-M, Iskander-K, and Iskander-E.

Final Thoughts

The warhead of a Russian Iskander-K cruise missile was discovered in a forested area of Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district, and the law enforcers are preparing a controlled detonation that may produce audible explosions for nearby residents, the local police reported on April 15. Renowned for its precision and versatility, the Iskander missile system has come to represent Russian military power, with its frequent use giving rise to what some have dubbed the process of "Iskanderization."