Russia-Ukraine Iskander missile deployment

Ukrainian military intelligence has identified the deployment of an upgraded Russian ballistic missile, the 9M723-2 (also referred to as ‘Iskander-1000’), during strikes against Kyiv. Part of the ‘Bora-M’ complex, this modernized missile features a larger engine and increased launcher size compared to the standard 9M723-1 model.

The upgraded missile provides a significant increase in range, estimated at approximately 550 kilometers, compared to the 390-kilometer range of previous versions. This extension allows Russian launch units to operate further from the front lines while still reaching targets like Kyiv and potentially western Ukrainian cities such as Lviv.

Technical specifications indicate the missile utilizes a quasi-ballistic trajectory with inertial and satellite navigation. Traveling at hypersonic speeds of Mach 6 or 7, the missile can reach targets in less than ten minutes, which reduces detection windows. Its high kinetic energy also makes it capable of penetrating reinforced concrete and fortified underground bunkers.