Article Posted on : - Jun 14, 2017

9T250-1 Transport Loader for Iskander-M system. Photo: Boevaya mashina, Wikimedia Commons.

MOSCOW (TASS-DEFENCE): A Russian Eastern Military District's large missile unit has received a brigade set of the Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 Stone) tactical ballistic missile system, the Defence Ministry's press office said.

"A ceremony of handing over a brigade set of the Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile system to an Eastern Military District missile large unit has taken place at the Kapustin Yar training range (in south Russia).

The servicemen received more than 10 launchers, transporter-loader and command and staff vehicles, life support and maintenance systems and a data preparation post," the press office added.

This is the tenth large missile unit fully rearmed with the advanced Iskander-M system, the press office said.

The crews have already started to undergo training with the use of the advanced weapons.

"The rearmament programme will culminate in a tactical exercise, during which a cruise missile will be launched. After that, the troops will return by rail to their permanent base," the press office added.

The Iskander tactical ballistic missile system is designed to hit small and area targets in the enemy's rear. The system comprises several types of vehicles, including a wheeled self-propelled launcher, a transporter-loader vehicle, a command and staff vehicle, etc.

The system's ammunition load comprises the 9M723 single-stage solid-propellant missile with a firing range of up to 500 kilometers (311 miles). The missile can be furnished with both conventional and cluster warheads.