Iskander missile system shows up in Algeria
Recently, Algeria displayed the Iskander missile system while preparing for its Independence Day military parade. Photos from rehearsals show that this powerful missile is now part of Algeria’s defense arsenal. They were added to boost national security and to improve the country’s military capabilities.
Algeria purchased the Iskanders a few years ago to provide better protection from possible threats. The Iskander missile system offers high precision; the Russian military variant ranges up to 500 kilometres. Russia has designed the export version, the Iskander-E, with a lesser 280-kilometre range to comply with international arms limits.
International Customers
For global customers, they developed the Iskander-E and made sure it remains effective and compliant with export regulations. This export version of the Iskander is a strong and reliable weapon system that has features that make it stand out in combat situations.
It can carry a warhead of about 480 kilograms and can employ various types of warheads: conventional, high-explosive and specialised bunker-busting warheads. The Iskander-E is also highly accurate, with a precision range of some 5-7 m. Sophisticated inertial guidance systems achieve this accuracy, and you can enhance them with GPS or Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation system.
A Monster at Mach 7
The Iskander-E missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 7, and their high manoeuvrability makes them difficult to intercept by air defense systems. In addition, the Iskander-E is designed for quick use on mobile platforms, which facilitates transportation and operation in different combat conditions without the need for fixed sites.
This mobility is key, allowing for rapid movement and flexibility in battle. The Iskander-E uses anti-jamming technologies to increase its survivability in electronically contested environments where other systems could be degraded or defeated. This feature makes the Iskander-E valuable for modern warfare, where electronic warfare plays a more prevalent role.
Export Controls
Despite strict export controls, the Iskander-E system is in demand among countries looking to improve their defense capabilities with accurate, proven missile technology. For Algeria, the purchase of the Iskander-E is a significant improvement in its defense posture. Kommersant said that Russia had reportedly started delivering four regiments of Iskander-E missiles to Algeria back in 2018.
Each regiment comprises 12 launchers and about 30 support vehicles for robust operational and logistical support. This setup allows Algeria to fully use the system in real combat situations. The Iskander demonstrated its effectiveness during war in Georgia and in Ukraine, hitting targets with high precision. That conflict demonstrated the missile’s combat power and importance in modern warfare tactics.
Conclusion
Given its substantial military use, a question is, what impact might Algeria’s acquisition of the Iskander-E have on security in North Africa, especially on Morocco? Algeria could change the military balance in the region, deterring neighbouring countries from fighting and improving its strategic position, thanks to its enhanced capabilities.
References
- U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales – Iskander-E Overview: https://www.army.mil
- https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iskander-multiple-successes-ukraine-praises
- Kommersant—Russia’s Defence Exports to Algeria: https://www.kommersant.ru
- Defense News – Algeria’s Military Modernisation: https://www.defensenews.com
- https://novatel.com/an-introduction-to-gnss/gnss-constellations/glonass
- https://thedefensewatch.com/product/iskander-ballistic-missile/
About the Author
