Iskander on its TEL. (Photo : Russian Army)
Russian 9K720 Iskander or the Iskander M mobile short-range, nuclear capable ballistic missile systems first detected in Syria in March 2016 are still there as confirmed by Israeli spy satellite photos and continue to serve as a direct threat to Israel.
The Israelis released high-resolution imagery on Jan. 19 showing two Iskander transporter erector launchers (TELs), each carrying two of the surface-to-surface missiles at Russia's Hmeymin base in Latakia along the coast of Syria.
There is no reason for the nuclear capable missiles to be in Syria other than to threaten Israel and prevent any Israeli intervention in the Syrian Civil War, according to Israeli military analysts.
The spy satellite photos were taken in late December by the Israeli-built Eros B satellite and posted on the website of ImageSat International (iSi), a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the state-owned firm that builds all of Israel's spy satellites. Other Israeli images show six different "missile elements" under camouflage nets.
The Iskander M missile, the 9M723K1, is a short range, ballistic stealth missile with an operational range of 500 kilometers. The missile can deliver its 1,500 kg warhead at speeds of up to Mach 6.2 (7,700 km/h).
It can also carry a 500 kiloton nuclear warhead. Russia operates over 100 Iskander Ms.
What makes Iskander M fearful is its maneuverability and stealth. It can maneuver at different altitudes and trajectories and can turn at up to 20G to 30G to evade anti-ballistic missiles.
The Russians claim Iskander has achieved sufficient accuracy, range and the ability to penetrate defenses to become a precision bombing weapon.
Moscow has not admitted it has any Iskander M missile systems in Syria, although the new Israeli photos confirm there are two on the ground.
Moscow's lie was revealed when an Iskander M was filmed by the crew of a Russian TV channel filming a report about the Russian soldiers departing for home aboard a An-124 strategic airlift jet aircraft.
