Russia ramps up Iskander missile production, challenging Ukraine's defense
According to reports from Ukrainian media, Russia has significantly increased the production of Iskander ballistic missiles, now supplying its military with dozens of units monthly. This development concerns Ukraine due to the significant challenges Iskanders pose to air defenses.
8:51 AM EDT, May 14, 2024
Russia's arsenal includes Iskander-M systems, Iskander-K, and Iskander-E (primarily for export). The Iskander-M is most commonly used, especially for attacks on Ukraine. This system fires ballistic missiles over 23 feet long and about 3 feet in diameter, weighing between approximately 6,600 pounds and nearly 11,000 pounds, depending on the payload.
These missiles have a range of up to 310 miles. For air defenses, their speed, achieving hypersonic velocities of between 6 and 7 Mach (approximately 4,570 mph to 5,340 mph) after reaching altitudes of up to 31 miles, is a significant challenge.
How many Iskander missiles does Russia produce?
According to the UNIAN agency, Russian defense factories currently produce an average of about 40 Iskander ballistic missiles per month. Unofficial estimates suggest the army has nearly 200 of these missiles in reserve.
The increase in production is also reflected in reports from the Ukrainian military, which speak to a surge in attacks using Iskander ballistic missiles and Kh-22 missiles. By May of this year, more than 50 Iskander launch systems were deployed along the border with Ukraine.
Data from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense indicates Russia currently possesses about 750 long-range missiles. This arsenal includes not just Iskander ballistic missiles but also the increasingly stockpiled hypersonic Zircon missiles, various Kalibr cruise missiles, and the Kh-69, lately dubbed the "Kremlin's secret weapon."
Kh-69 missiles, similar in capability to the Western AGM-158 JASSM missiles, weigh around 1,700 pounds. The warhead itself accounts for about 660 pounds of this weight. Primarily carried by the Su-57 fighters, Russia's most advanced aircraft, Kh-69 missiles can be launched from 656 feet to 36,089 feet.
