In news:Russia has promised its ally Belarus delivery of nuclear- capable missiles in the coming months to take on an “aggressive” West.
What is the Iskander-M missile system?
Codenamed “SS-26 Stone” by NATO, Iskander-M is a term used by Russia to define both the transporter-erector launch system and the short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) it fires.
The system can also fire ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCMs).
The Iskander-M system has been exclusively used by the Russian military, whereas Iskander-E is the one meant for export
What is the missile’s capability and range?
The Iskander-M missile has a range of 500 km and it can carry a payload of up to 700 kg.
It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
The conventional warheads can be equipped with include cluster bombs, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) warheads and bunker-buster munitions.
The export variant, Iskander-E, has a range of 280 km with a reduced 480 kg payload.
Russia first used the Iskander in combat in Georgia in 2008.
US-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says that the Iskander missiles are designed to confuse missile defences by flying on a low trajectory and manoeuvring in flight to strike targets within 2 to 5 metres accuracy.
What does its proposed delivery to Belarus mean?
A sort of warning to the West against climbing the escalation ladder in the Ukraine war
In 2012, Moscow said that the weapon could be used to target Europe’s missile defences.
The Iskander system has already been deployed in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave, from where it can be fired to target NATO forces in Poland, the Baltic States, and Sweden.
