Moscow Arms Syria with a Top-Flight Surface Missile

DEBKAfile ^ | October 10, 2005

[Fennie]

Last January, when the deal was first broached, the Bush administration stepped in and obtained a promise from president Vladimir Putin to call off the sale, as did Israel's Ariel Sharon during the Russian president's visit in May. Putin has broken those pledges. For a speedy delivery in the first quarter of 2006, the Syrians paid cash. The United States and NATO have code-named the Iskander missile SS-26 "Stone." They have nothing in their missile arsenal to match its unique attributes...

[MCCRon58]

Gee, and I thought the "Cold War" was over. Looks more like it just went into hibernation while they retooled their marketing campaigns.

[baubau]

Debka: the tabloid king of the 'Net.

Propagandistic and not to be trusted or believed.

It's trashy...and getting trashier.

[hosepipe]

Gotta be able to SEE the F-22 before the missle is shot..
If not you're toast.. before you even hear them,, ugh!.. IT..

[SolidWood]

The United States and NATO have code-named the Iskander missile SS-26 "Stone." They have nothing in their missile arsenal to match its unique attributes

Sure...

[College_Libertarian]

Everybody has been saying they are scared of China. China isn't the threat, it's still Russia. Russia is desperate and is becoming a more repressive government like the old communist regime, while China has enormous economic potential with a lot to lose with bad relations. Russia probably sees the weakness in the US and they would like the Middle East to defeat us. There has been a lot of disturbing stories coming out of Moscow lately. The Cold War is not over.

[Paul Ross]

From Global Security...

Iskander / SS-26

The road-mobile SS-X-26 is the second attempt to replace the `Scud', since the first attempt, the Oka SS-23 SPIDER, was eliminated under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The operational requirements for the SS-26 are probably similar to those of the original SS-23. One of the major questions concerning the program is the missile's range, which is almost certainly less than the 500 km range limit established by the INF Treaty. The SS-26 may include a longer range (greater than 400 km) variant for the Russian forces, and a shorter range (less than 300 km) variant for export.

The TEL was likely based on the new BAZ-6909 family of trucks, first publicly displayed at a commercial transport show in Moscow in August 1995. Two missiles are carried on each launcher, though the delay between firing each round is unclear. The new TEL is apparently based on the the 9P71 Oka TEL, though the new SS- X-26 TEL has been designed with the INF Treaty in mind, with several external changes that clearly differentiate the two vehicles to prevent treaty compliance problems. The nose of the vehicle has been extended forward, the chassis lengthened, and the access door arrangement has been changes. The tactical parameters of the two vehicles are probably similar.

In 1996 Russian television reports depicted the first launch of the SS-X-26, which is a direct evolution of the SS-23 Oka. It appears probable that new features will be incorporated into the design. The SS-X-26 appears to have several different conventional warheads, including a cluster munitions warhead, a fuel-air explosive enhanced-blast warhead, a tactical earth penetrator for bunker busting and an electro- magnetic pulse device for anti-radar missions. Given the relatively small warhead, improved terminal precision was a major system requirement, which could be achieved by active terminal sensor such as millimeter wave radar, satellite terminal guidance using GLOSNASS, an improved inertial platform, or some combination of these approaches.

As of 1999 it appeared that this system had entered operational service with the Russian Army.

The launch installation has two missiles with a range of 280 kilometers. Each missile has a 480 kilogram warhead consisting of 54 elements. The system can be used against small and large targets. The Iskander missile can easily overcome air defense systems. It's almost impossible to prevent a launch of an Iskander missile because of the system's mobility. Targets can be found not only by satellite and aircraft but also by a conventional intelligence center and by a soldier who directs artillery fire. Targets can also be found from photos, which will be put into a computer by means of a scanner. The self-direction device functions even in fog or darkness. Only the Iskander system can accomplish such tasks. The United States has tried to reconsider the missile technology control regime and here arises the question whether this may be an obstacle for the sale of the new missile abroad. Such missile systems as Iskander have a special place in the world weapons market. Even a small amount of such missiles drastically changes the balance of force in conflicts.

According to Nikolay Guschin, chief and senior designer of the Machinebuilding Design Office, the complex is meant ' for covertly preparing and launching effective missile strikes at small-size targets of particular importance. A specificity of this complex is the high level of automation in the pre-launch preparations little time required to make it ready, and the high precision of shooting.

Research carried out by specialists from the leading Russian military science centers has shown that the lskander-E missile complex is 5 to 8 times better than its foreign analogues in terms of the "effectiveness-cost" criterion. As for its tactical and technical characteristics, it also poses a great improvement on the existing Russian tactical missile complexes. Capable of accomplishing tasks connected with the use of non-nuclear warheads, it's the world's first complex equipped with two-missile launch installation. Weighing 3800 kilos each, controlled throughout the trajectory of their flight, equipped with various systems of correction and self-targeting, its missiles are capable of overcoming the enemy's anti-missile defences and hitting targets at a distance of 280 kilometers.

According to military experts, the lskander-E missile complex will serve as "determent weapon" in local conflicts and as strategic arms for the countries with limited territory. Its great range of shooting making it possible to use it from the depth of one's own positions, and the brief time it can stay in its launch position make the complex virtually invulnerable to ordinary weapons.

The composition of the complex makes it possible to ensure the full cycle of its use in combat, including its combat control, information base, technical servicing and the training of its crews, without the involvement of additional remedies.

Specifications

DIA Code Name SS-26
Nato Code Name: ?
Russian Designation: Iskander
Design Bureau: KBM Engineering
Inservice: 1999
Range: 300 Km
Stages: 1
Warhead: 480Kg - unitary or 10 Submutitions
Weight: 3,800 Kg
Fuel: Solid
Guidance: GPS/GLONASS/Inertial/ Possibly IR Terminal Homing

[Paul Ross]

The Cold War is not over.

Agreed.

But the people who let the Communists back off of the mat where they had been pinned (from both parties)...aren't admitting it...or doing anything to defend us in it...they still arbitrarily have the strategic U.S. Defense procurement Holiday still going full tilt...

If they admit that the threat of tyranny has returned...their entire foreign policy record is disgraced...and they aren't "adult" enough to acknowledge it.

[Paul Ross]

The United States and NATO have code-named the Iskander missile SS-26 "Stone." They have nothing in their missile arsenal to match its unique attributes Sure...

Israel's missile, the LORA, which also uses GPS and television, has a range of only 250 km. The SS-26, by contrast, is approx. 400 km.

The US Army's Tactical Attack Missile (ATACMS) Block II, made by Lockheed, while -state-of-the-art in GPS and guidance, has only a range of 128 km. I don't believe it does have any similar terminal missile defense evasion or countermeasures.

The revised configuration, Block IVa, Lockheed Martin MGM-168, will have only one 500 pound warhead rather than the M74 bomblets, and will be light enough to reach 300 km, as per the following: MGM-140A: 165 km (102 miles); MGM-140B/E: 300 km (186 miles); MGM-140C (MGM-164A): 140 km (87 miles)

The Lockheed P-44, just developed has some interesting capabilities of its own, albeit short-ranged. Hope the Army can be encouraged to buy it. Sounds truly useful.

[College_Libertarian]

"If they admit that the threat of tyranny has returned...their entire foreign policy record is disgraced...and they aren't "adult" enough to acknowledge it."

They aren’t competent enough to understand the real threat, plus the only thing politicians are concerned about is winning the next election. Most people are only focused on the Middle East threats. The US can't handle another enemy politically, because we made it a "Global" War on Terror. This is exactly why we should have never asked for other countries consent in attacking Iraq. Russia will be able to do whatever it wants without pressure from any other country. Russia has a lot of leverage right now. Once Russia completely gags its media, watch out.

[Fennie]

Sun Tzu: "All warfare is based on deception."