9K720 Iskander
The Iskander-M (9K720) is Russia's primary theatre-level precision strike system. Each brigade battery consists of 12 TELs (Transporter-Erector-Launchers) each carrying 2 missiles. The 9M723 ballistic missile achieves 500 km range with 5-7m CEP, performing post-boost evasion manoeuvres to defeat BMD intercept. The 9M728/9M729 cruise missile variant (Iskander-K) extends range to 500+ km with terrain-following flight. Warhead options include conventional, submunition, penetrator, thermobaric, and nuclear. Russia has fired hundreds of Iskander missiles in Ukraine, targeting C2, airfields, and infrastructure. Ukrainian Patriot has achieved some intercepts.
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- 500 km range covers entire Ukraine theatre from Russian territory
- 5-7m CEP — among the most accurate non-nuclear ballistic missiles in service
- Pull-up manoeuvre during terminal phase evades most ATBM systems
- Dual conventional and nuclear warhead capability
- Iskander-K variant carries R-500 cruise missile for additional 500+ km ground-launch range
- Very high unit cost (~$3M per missile) creating stockpile sustainability concerns
- High expenditure rate in Ukraine straining production vs consumption balance
- Production at Votkinsk limited — insufficient to fully replace Ukrainian consumption
- Patriot PAC-3 MSE has demonstrated intercept capability in Ukraine
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