What is Iskander-M?

About Iskander-M:

• The Iskander (Western reporting name: SS-26 Stone) is a road-mobile short-range ballistic missile system developed by Russia.
• It entered Russian service in 2006.
• It is designed for tactical strikes on small, high-value land targets. 
• This system can use different types of missiles.
• Features:
  • It is 7.3 meters long, 0.92 meters in diameter, and has a launch weight of 3,750 kilograms.
  • It has a range of 400-500 km and uses both inertial and optical guidance systems.
  • It can carry conventional and nuclear warheads up to 700 kg.
  • Its missiles can travel at up to seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7) and can reach an altitude of more than 30 miles.
  • It employs amaneuverable re-entry vehicle (MaRV) and decoys to defeat theater missile defense systems.
  • It is also equipped with various systems for in-flight correction and self-targeting, allowing the missile to overcome missile defense systems.
• Variants:
  • Iskander-E: export version, range: 280 km.
  • Iskander-K: new version, unveiled in 2007, with a new cruise missile R-500, range: 280 km max.

Q1: What are Ballistic Missiles?

A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled, self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target. They are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. They can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.

Source: On Cam: Putin’s Iskander Missile Strikes Ukrainian Airbase; Su-27 Jet & S-300 System Hit | Watch