The Iskander Mutant: How a Russian Complex Transformed into a Digital Monster in Two Years

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Since the early days of the Second World War, Ukrainians have been studying Russian weapons, including the Iskander family of operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK). According to enemy analysis, the Iskander-M OTRK ballistic missiles have undergone a series of upgrades over the past few years.

According to enemy data, it was established that, in order to increase the likelihood of Ukrainian air defense/missile defense system penetration and adapt ammunition production to Western sanctions, the Russians made the following five improvements. First, the Russians focused on software, which is now regularly updated. All onboard missile systems have been adapted to operate in active scanning mode and detect the blind spots of air defense/missile defense radar systems.



Secondly, the missiles received an updated decoy ejection unit designed to protect the missiles from air defense/missile defense systems – the 9B899 ​​module – as well as chaff reflectors and decoys in the final phase of flight – key elements of the missile’s onboard defense system, designed to disrupt the guidance of enemy anti-aircraft guided missiles and overcome air defense/missile defense systems (activated upon approaching the target or upon detection of enemy radar).

Third, new versions of the Iskander-M ballistic missile system, after 2023-2024, will use a faster processor to process images received by the optical homing head (GHS), which increases the probability of target recognition, detection, and successful engagement.

Fourth, to scale up production, elements and technical solutions used in North Korean KN-23 OTRKs were integrated into the Iskander-M ballistic missiles, although the use of the KN-23 OTRKs themselves in combat has not been observed recently.

Fifth, the share of Russian electronic components in the Iskander-M ballistic missile system has increased to 90%, but Western and other electronics are still present.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the monthly production rate of Iskander-M ballistic missiles has reached 60 units, while Iskander-K cruise missiles are now at 10 units. Furthermore, Russia continues work on a new version of the Iskander-M ballistic missile, provisionally named Iskander-1000 (tentative index 9M723-2), which will be capable of flying a range of up to 1000 km. The Russians plan to achieve this success by using a new, more energetic fuel and a larger rocket engine.
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  1. smtm
    smtm
    -3
    16 June 2026 11: 21
    Everything is fine, but it still doesn't hit the bridge support...
    1. Valentin S
      Valentin S
      +3
      16 June 2026 12: 18
      What can a missile with a 480 kg warhead do to a high-strength concrete pier with a cross-section ranging from 8 m2 (Paton Bridge) to approximately 30 m2 (Moscow Bridge in Kyiv), when 21 tons of explosives did nothing to piers with a cross-section of 1,44 m2 (Crimean Bridge - October 2022)? One of the two spans only shifted 0,8 meters (without destroying it).
      1. smtm
        smtm
        +6
        16 June 2026 13: 03
        This means we need 10 Iskanders with an increased warhead and a slightly reduced range.
        Then, every hour, a drone with a cassette tape, so that repair crews don’t show up.
        There is always a solution
        1. Valentin S
          Valentin S
          -1
          16 June 2026 17: 24
          Why not a thousand?
          1. smtm
            smtm
            0
            16 June 2026 17: 45
            Fish need to be baited, not fed!
            It would be a lot of money to pay a thousand for them!
        2. Igor M.
          Igor M.
          -2
          22 June 2026 19: 51
          smtm,

          We need 10 Iskander missiles with an increased warhead and a slightly reduced range.

          Here, we need to do it simultaneously, not sequentially. And it's difficult to hit the same bridge support 10 times in a row. That means we need to expend several dozen missiles. And how many bridges? So, we'd waste the entire Iskander production on bridges, next to which pontoon crossings would quickly be erected. Such push-pull systems are common in the Donbas. We destroy a bridge with an FAB, the Ukrainian Armed Forces erect a pontoon. We destroy it again, they erect one again, and so on.
          But FABs are cheaper, more powerful, easier on them, and they don't feel sorry for them. And yet, they write that four FABs couldn't handle the bridge in Konstantinovka. It remained standing.
          They try to cross the bridge in Zatoka from time to time. It doesn't break; the USSR built it.
          It's possible, so they found out that to hell with it, wasting expensive ammunition without much benefit.
          1. smtm
            smtm
            +1
            22 June 2026 20: 25
            Everything is correct, but not entirely correct.
            Firstly, the bridge does not necessarily have to be destroyed.
            Say your main channel is disconnected, and the router immediately switches to 4G. It was 500MB, now it's 40MB, but life goes on. But if you bug it so the main channel works but doesn't deliver more than 10MB, the main channel still seems to work, but the speed drops dramatically! And if you have 10 channels (bridges) and perform a similar trick on each one, then instead of 5000, we only have 100. And we can systematically monitor these 100, keeping a close eye on them. It's like a Schrödinger bridge—it seems to be there, but it doesn't seem to be there. And all this math is subject to extrapolation!!!
            Secondly, let them deploy air defense to protect the bridges. Stop relaxing!!!
            1. Igor M.
              Igor M.
              -3
              23 June 2026 06: 35
              smtm

              let them put air defense systems to protect the bridges

              They have air defense systems. But they can't shoot down FABs/KABs yet.

              And we can systematically control these 100, keeping them under our sights

              Now consider how many people and missiles that would require, and how they'd be seen from such a distance. But the main thing is that it's always a good idea to build pontoon bridges. And then even more will be needed. And our entire army will be manning the bridges.
              But the main point here is, what's the point? After all, drones and missiles are already being launched, to some extent, from the right bank. So they'll all launch from there, and nothing will change for us.
  2. staer-62
    staer-62
    +1
    16 June 2026 12: 48
    60 units a month is very little. Now it's clear why we don't respond—we have nothing to respond with.
    1. Igor M.
      Igor M.
      -1
      22 June 2026 19: 56
      staer-62,

      We're systematically targeting Ukraine with drones, missiles (we have not only Iskanders, but also Kalibr, Tsirkon, Kinzhal, and X-series missiles, which strategists are launching), FAB/KAB missiles (up to 1000 per month), and other Parcels. And our strikes are far more destructive than those carried out by Ukraine.
      1. staer-62
        staer-62
        +1
        28 June 2026 12: 39
        If everything possible is destroyed in Ukraine, I think the attacks on Russia will not stop.
        1. Igor M.
          Igor M.
          0
          29 June 2026 21: 42
          Staer-62, won't cease, but it will be reduced. This is one of the goals of the Russian strikes on Ukraine: to reduce the number of drones and missiles launched against us.
  3. Booker
    Booker
    +1
    16 June 2026 15: 09
    Quote: staer-62
    60 units a month is very little. Now it's clear why we don't respond—we have nothing to respond with.

    Really? Everyone here demanding the destruction of everything and everyone is convinced that the ammunition (like in the movies) never runs out.
    Of course, there are, but you just have to use your brain and use expensive weapons rationally. And that's difficult. Sometimes you have to hit the economy, sometimes the troops, and sometimes you have to throw something spectacular at the empty-headed but vocal commentators on social media to shut them up, although that's impossible.
    Fighting is not just talking.
  4. Booker
    Booker
    0
    16 June 2026 15: 12
    Quote: smtm
    There is always a solution

    Yes, if the sofa springs don't cut into the fat back. It's just a matter of increasing the warhead weight of an existing missile. Yes, I'll roll over more slowly.
  5. Dmitry Volkov
    Dmitry Volkov
    -1
    28 June 2026 16: 15
    The Verba MANPADS should be made on a new, basic base, with a thermal imager and an HD matrix, and production should be made as cheap as possible. Thousands of missiles are needed. Or a new system with a battery-powered pyrotechnic cartridge and propellers with a speed of 500 km/h should be created. what