Russia's Lethal Iskander Missile Causing Havoc in Ukraine

If there's one missile in Russia's arsenal inspiring dread in Ukrainian forces, it's the formidable Iskander. This high-precision, mobile ballistic missile system has emerged as a devastatingly effective weapon for Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine.

Originally designed in the 1990s to replace the obsolete Tochka tactical missiles, the road-mobile Iskander can deliver a potent 800 kg warhead to targets up to 500 km away with pinpoint accuracy of just 5-7 meters. It can be armed with conventional, cluster, thermobaric, or even nuclear warheads.

But what really sets the Iskander apart is its blazing speed of Mach 6-7 and ability to perform evasive maneuvering at low altitudes below 50 km. These attributes make it extremely difficult to detect and intercept by enemy air defenses.

Ukraine got a taste of the Iskander's lethal precision last year when Russian forces employed a new "double-tap" tactic - rapidly firing multiple Iskanders at the same target to inflict maximum damage. The ability to launch two missiles from a single vehicle gave the Russians a major firepower advantage.

More recently in early March, Russia landed a major propaganda coup when Iskanders took out two U.S.-supplied Patriot missile batteries near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. It marked the first time these advanced American air defense systems had been destroyed in Ukraine.

The loss of the costly Patriot systems, which had been playing a key role in thwarting Russian airstrikes, was a major blow to Kyiv's war effort. Moscow likely aimed to deplete Ukraine's limited supply as part of a strategy of attrition.

With the Iskander proving so effective, Russia has ramped up production to 30 missiles per month in 2023, up from just 7 previously. The increased output ensures a steady flow of these precision-guided munitions to frontline units.

For the outgunned Ukrainian military, the mobile, maneuverable and virtually unstoppable Iskander has emerged as one of the biggest threats on the battlefield. Each new missile launch risks striking a deadly blow against their defensive capabilities.

As the biggest conventional land war in Europe since WWII rages on, the Russian Iskander is leaving a trail of destruction across Ukraine and sowing dread among those tasked with trying to stop it.