Russia Building Specialised New Ballistic Missiles Types For its Iskander-M System at a Large Scale

An assessment made at Ukraine’s Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KNDISE) has highlighted a significant surge in production of enhanced ballistic missile types for the Russian Iskander-M missile system to fulfil new orders by the Russian Defence Ministry. At least seven variants the missile featuring different warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, cluster, and special types, are currently in production for the system, with the 9M723-1F2 variant being ordered in particularly large numbers. Reports indicate that over 770 9M723-1F2 missiles have been procured, at a cost of 192 million rubles (2.4 million dollars) each, which is significantly higher than the estimated cost of prior variants. The new variant benefits from a modernised detonation and fragmentation scheme, which increases its effectiveness for striking area targets.

Each Iskander-M brigade is comprised of 51 vehicles, including 12 transporter erector launchers and 12 reload vehicles which between them can deploy 48 missiles simultaneously. This allows a wide range of specialised missile types to be launched against various targets they specialisations allow them to best engage. The newest known missile type is the 9M723-1F4, which has an improved high-explosive fragmentation warhead speculated to include an updated shell design and an advanced detonation scheme. This may increase its effectiveness against area and fortified targets. The variant ordered in the least numbers is the 9M723-1F1, which saw must 59 built at a cost of 3 million dollars each. The missile uses high-explosive penetrating warheads and steel elements designed for use against personnel and equipment.

The Russian defence sector has succeeded in maintaining production of missiles for the Iskander-M system at a much increased wartime rate, with deliveries in 2023 reported to have been made at several times the rates seen in all preceding years. The systems had reportedly by mid-2023 seen output quintuple. Iskander-M systems have been used to neutralise a wide range of high value targets, with drone footage confirming the destruction of Ukraine’s scarce Patriot surface to air missile systems on multiple occasions. The systems have also been used to attack the positions of both Western combatants supporting the Ukrainian war effort on multiple occasions, as well as key rail infrastructure, combat aircraft and drone launch sites.