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WATCH: Russian Nuclear-Capable Missile Test-Fire
Russia has released dramatic footage of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile test launch.
The Central MD Missile Brigade launched the short-range missile from an Iskander-M tactical system at the Kapustin Yar missile testing range in the south-west of the country.
The video shows a command centre of a simulated enemy 200 km (124 miles) away reduced to a smoking crater. A statement from Russia's Defense Ministry said:
"The missile, made with the use of the radar signature reduction technology, was not detected by electronic warfare from the imaginary enemy and destroyed the target successfully". [It] was flying at an altitude of 40-50 kilometres (25-31 miles) while manoeuvring with 20-fold G force in some parts of the flight."
Missiles launched from the Iskander-M have a range of 500 kilometres (250-310 miles), at 2100–2600 m/s (Mach 6–7), with the system capable of delivering several types of 500kg (1,100lb) warheads to destroy a wide variety of ground targets.
The guided missiles can locate targets either via satellite or aircraft, through a conventional intelligence centre, or from aerial photos scanned into a computer.
Iskander missiles on a transporter vehicle. Picture: A. Savin
They can be re-targeted during flight if engaging mobile targets, and use stealth technology as well as electronic warfare jamming devices for suppression of enemy radar.
The Iskkander launch platform can be transported by any means of transport, including airplanes, with this mobility making it harder to prevent launches. It was outfitted with a new aeroballistic missile late last year.
It takes 16 minutes to launch a missile from the complex, but this can be cut to four minutes in case of operational readiness. A second missile can be launched in under 50 seconds.
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