For Ukraine, the Iskander represents a multifaceted threat: it degrades military capabilities, disrupts civilian life, and stretches already limited resources.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago, the 9K720 Iskander missile system has emerged as one of the most formidable weapons in Moscow’s arsenal, posing significant challenges to Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure.
The Iskander, a mobile short-range ballistic missile system, is designed for precision strikes and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. Its advanced capabilities, including high-speed, maneuverability, and radar-evading features, have made it an essential asset in Russia’s strategy to degrade Ukraine’s defenses, target key assets, and exert psychological pressure on the population.
Russia’s Iskander Missiles Are Better than NATO’s Interceptors
Russia’s Iskander system, particularly the Iskander-M variant, is equipped with two solid-propellant single-stage guided missiles, model 9M723K1, each capable of carrying a warhead weighing 1,543 pounds. These warheads can include high-explosive fragmentation, cluster, or even nuclear payloads. With an operational range of 249 to 311 miles, the Iskander-M can strike targets deep within Ukrainian territory from Russian-controlled areas or border regions, like Bryansk and Kursk.
The missile’s hypersonic terminal speed, reaching Mach 6 or 7, and quasi-ballistic trajectory, which involves evasive maneuvers during flight, make it exceptionally difficult to intercept. Recent upgrades to the Iskander-M have enhanced its lethality even further. Since 2022, Russia has introduced radar decoys that deploy during the missile’s final approach, generating false signatures to confuse air defense systems like the US-supplied Patriot missile battery. Additionally, the missile’s ability to perform unpredictable maneuvers at high altitudes complicates interception algorithms, reducing the effectiveness of even defenses. The Iskander’s mobile launch platform, which can independently target and fire within seconds, adds to its survivability, as it is challenging to locate and neutralize before launch. These technical advancements have made the Iskander a persistent threat to Ukraine’s military and civilian targets.
Russia has employed the Iskander missile system extensively in Ukraine, targeting a wide range of objectives, from military installations to critical infrastructure. The Iskander’s ability to deploy decoys, a feature included in its export variants, has been particularly problematic. This has been especially evident in attacks on Kyiv where, despite Ukraine’s success in intercepting some missiles, the upgraded Iskander-M has caused significant damage.
The Iskander missile system poses several strategic and tactical challenges for Ukraine, primarily due to its difficulty to intercept and the strain it places on limited air defense resources. Ukraine’s air defenses, bolstered by Western systems, like the Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T, have shown resilience. Yet Ukraine only possesses a limited number of Patriot batteries, leaving most of the country vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks.
What Can Ukraine Do Against the Missiles? Not Much
Precision-guided munitions and advanced missile technology play a decisive role in the current Ukraine War. For Ukraine, the Iskander represents a multifaceted threat: it degrades military capabilities, disrupts civilian life, and stretches already limited resources. Russia’s ability to sustain production and deploy upgraded missiles, potentially including the reported Iskander-1000 with a 621 mile range, raises concerns about further escalation.
While the Iskander-1000’s deployment remains unconfirmed, its potential use could expand Russia’s reach, threatening deeper Ukrainian and even NATO targets.
For NATO, the Iskander’s effectiveness highlights the need for enhanced air defense systems and countermeasures. The missile’s ability to challenge Patriot systems underscores the importance of ongoing technological development to counter Russia’s evolving arsenal. Additionally, Russia’s use of the Iskander as a tool of intimidation, coupled with its nuclear-capable design, raises broader concerns about escalation and the need for diplomatic efforts to prevent further destabilization.
Russia’s Iskander series is a reminder that, in spite of wishful thinking among the Western commentariat, the Russians are more than capable of waging war against a modern military. Indeed, Moscow has proven that it has the upper hand in this fight. With America now perennially distracted in the Middle East, one can anticipate that Russia will soon have an open field in Ukraine.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / ID1974.
