MOSCOW: From the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine tensions, the whole world had its eyes on Russia’s most destructive weapon: the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). Russia has deployed the Iskander-M missiles in the Ukraine borders.

What is this Iskander-M? Why should Ukraine fear Iskander-M?

• The 9K720 Iskander (NATO: SS-26 “Stone”) is a road-mobile short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the Russian military for attacking enemies without warning. The Arabic word Iskander means ‘defender of mankind’. The term also has Greek roots.
• Iskander-M, Iskander-K and Iskander-E are variants of 9K720 Iskander
• Most destructive: Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile. In use since 2006
• Range: 400-500 km, 280 km (export variant). Weight: 4,615 kg. Carrying capacity: 710-800 kg
• Hyper sonic speed: 2100-2600 m/s (7560-9360 km/h)
• A single strike can wreak havoc in an area of the size of two football fields (25,000 sq. m.)
• If attached with warheads, it can cause explosions equal to a power of 5-50 kilo ton TNT
• Iskander can attack using smart bombs that can scan enemy territory and destroy armored military vehicles. It can also strike using electromagnetic pulse warheads. These smart bombs can destroy all the electronic devices in an area.
• Can destroy even powerful bunkers in the battlefield
• Attack focused on the target image loaded inside
• Can attack after collecting data from specially designed drones
• Used in combat against Georgia in 2008 and Syria in 2016