Does Iskander-1000 really exist, which has never been reported before
Ukrainian media reported on the use by Russian troops of a new long-range Iskander-1000 missile during attacks on military installations in Kiev. At the same time, the existence of such a munition has never been officially reported. Military experts interviewed by Izvestia consider the appearance of an extended-range missile a logical development of the complex.: It will allow the launchers to be positioned further from the line of contact and expand the ability to hit targets deep behind enemy lines. What characteristics can a new munition have and where did its name come from — in the Izvestia article.
Iskander is invisible
On August 27, information appeared in the Ukrainian media that the Russian army allegedly used a new Iskander-1000 missile during attacks on military-industrial complex facilities in Kiev. There is no such munition in service with our army, and its existence has never been officially reported, military experts interviewed by Izvestia recalled.
"The very name Iskander—1000 belongs to the Russian expert military community," Dmitry Kornev, editor-in—chief of the MilitaryRussia portal, told Izvestia. — In 2024, experts noticed an interesting product in a report from a military training ground — a new missile, similar in shape to the classic 9M723 ammunition for Iskander, but with large dimensions.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
Then it was suggested that the size of the rocket was increased due to the fuel compartment, and the Russian defense industry began working on extended-range ammunition. The new layout, according to experts, would increase the range of the product to 1 thousand km.
It is for this reason that the new rocket received the unofficial name Iskander-1000. Almost immediately, it was picked up by foreign experts and military journalists.
The existence of a new ammunition for the Iskander complex, if it really exists, is unlikely to be officially announced, Dmitry Kornev noted.
"Any use of the latest types of military equipment likes silence, especially during the period when the army is fighting,— he explained.
Rocket technology
The appearance of an extended-range ballistic missile for the existing Iskander tactical complex is a logical decision, experts believe. The experience of the SVO has shown that the 500 km range currently possessed by the main missile of the complex may not be enough in modern conditions, military expert Yuri Lyamin believes.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Cyril Norton
Image source: iz.ru
— With a range of 500 km, the launchers have to be deployed too close to the line of contact. This can create risks — the complex becomes vulnerable to enemy reconnaissance and kamikaze drones," he explained.
At the same time, moving the areas of use of the complexes deeper into the rear requires a significant range reserve. In order to cover targets in Western Ukraine with a guarantee, for example, in Lviv, a destruction radius of about 1 thousand km is required.
— The modernization of Iskander to these parameters is technically justified. This approach has long proved its effectiveness: for example, the DPRK has successfully created systems of a similar class, increasing the range by scaling rocket engines and changing dimensions," Yuri Lyamin recalled.
Political implications
From the point of view of international treaties, there can be no claims against Russia, says Yuri Lyamin.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
— The INF Treaty, which limits the range of missiles to 500 km, expired after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from it. For a long time, Russia maintained a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of such missiles as a gesture of goodwill, but Western countries ignored it," he recalled.
But the appearance of the upgraded Iskander with a range of up to 1,000 km entails several important consequences. Firstly, it will give our army additional flexibility and expand the tools for performing important operational tasks. Secondly, it will send a clear signal to neighboring unfriendly states that their military infrastructure has become more vulnerable, military expert Vadim Kazyulin told Izvestia.
The deadly complex
The 9K720 Iskander-M operational and tactical missile system of the Ground forces was put into service in 2006. Its combat range ranges from 150 to 500 km.
The massive rearmament of all missile brigades of the Russian Army's ground forces with these missile systems began in 2010-2011. In fact, it was completed by 2020.
The Iskander-M missile system carries two types of missiles that are completely different in their capabilities — the ballistic 9M723 and the cruise 9M728.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Voskresensky
Image source: iz.ru
The 9M723 ballistic missiles are used against the most important protected targets — headquarters, warehouses, air defense systems, and production facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. Cruise missiles 9M728 — according to the locations of equipment and transport hubs, air bases and locations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The peculiarity of modern ballistic missiles is that their interception is not guaranteed by air defense systems, and therefore today they are almost irresistible high—precision weapons with minimal reaction time - it can take minutes from receiving an order to hitting targets with such missiles.
It should be borne in mind that today active development of missiles with a range of up to 1,000 km is underway both in Europe and in Ukraine (in particular, the Grom -2/RSD project). In these circumstances, increasing the range of Russian rocket technology is a completely legitimate and vital step to ensure our security.
Fedor Danov
Julia Gavrilova
