Russia intends within seven years to deploy short-range Iskander missiles with five border-area units, RIA Novosti reported today (see GSN, Nov. 17).
"By 2015, the Iskander system will be put in service with five missile brigades, primarily near Russia's western border and in the Kaliningrad Region," a Defense Ministry source told the news agency.
The mobile-launched tactical missiles, which have a range of 310 miles, would be Moscow's answer to U.S. plans to deploy 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic. Russia has said the U.S. missile defenses would undermine Russia's strategic security, dismissing Washington's explanation that they are intended to protect against missile threats from Iran.
The Iskander could reach most locations in Poland, along with sections of the Czech Republic and Germany, RIA Novosti reported.
Belarus might also receive Iskander missiles as a component of an "asymmetric" response to missile defense sites in Europe, according to the source.
"Belarus is our ally and we ... will deliver these systems to that country on a priority and most favorable basis," the source said (RIA Novosti I/Spacewar.com, Nov. 18).
Belarus said yesterday that its interest in the Iskander missiles had no connection to the U.S. missile shield initiative, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Nov. 14).
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said the Wall Street Journal last week published an "absolutely incorrect interpretation" of statements from President Alexander Lukashenko regarding possible deployment or purchase of the Russian weapon.
Lukashenko "made no statements about our country's intent to host Russian Iskander missiles in Belarus as a retaliatory measure for US moves to deploy a missile-defense system in Europe," according to the Foreign Ministry. The president was discussing a "general rearming of the Belarusian army," it said (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, Nov. 17).
Russia might also consider using "overkill" weapons in response to the U.S. installations in Europe, RIA Novosti reported yesterday.
"Iskander is not the most effective combat asset to be used against the ground targets that are now being deployed in some European states. We also have the air force, which has precision-guided weapons," said Gen. Pyotr Deinekin, former head of the Russian air force (RIA Novosti II, Nov. 17).