Designed as a new replacement of the famous Scud Missile,Iskander short range Tactical Ballistic Missile offers significant improvement compared to Scud,particularly in term of greater accuracy and reduced radar signature(to overcome counter-measure,such as interceptor missile).Russia began testing the system in 1996 and mass production began in 2005.
Iskander could be used to destroy military installation (airbase,barracks), enemy artillery battery,air defence and missile defence assets,which is shown in Russia-Georgia military conflict in august 2008.Typically armed with conventional warhead,it can be configured differently from anti personnel,delivering cluster bombs,to bunker buster,even some source reported that it can be armed with nuclear warhead to become a tactical nuclear missile.Recently,to counter NATO missile shield plan,Russia would have deployed such missile to Kaliningrad,which forced the United States to cancel the plan.
Export version,SS-26 Iskander-E(E=export),has a reduced range of about 280km with a warhead weighted about 400kg(to complement MTCR agreement that prohibits export of tactical missile with payloads of 500kg and 300km range).Rosoboronexport,Russia's military middle-man,has said that among countries that shown interest in acquiring the system is MALAYSIA,India,UAE and Syria,and also trying to promote Iskander-E to other countries as well.
Iskander-E in Malaysian service:possibilities?
Malaysia right now is in aggressive pace to modernize its already decent military capabilities.The acquisition of PT-91M MBT(Poland),ASTROSS II MLRS(Brazil),Scorpene SSK(France) and Su-30MKM(Russia) already spark shock and awe to neighboring countries,which also began spending as well(except the Philippines.They still lag behind and their armed force is largely counter-insurgency oriented).But the real question is,Will Malaysia ever bought one?
Perhaps the safest answer is NO,not for the time being at least.There is another more urgent equipment to be replaced,particularly S-61A4 transport helicopter,the late Inderapura(ex USS-Newport) class LST,new armoured APC,to name few.Even after all these have been replaced,Malaysia also need a new type of weapon to fill the gap,especially self-propelled artillery and attack helicopters(which will be reviewed later).And current economy situation calls for budget cuts and at this point what is important is to maintain current capability until funds is available(and then there is stupid opposition parties with their stupid rhetoric.phuk em.hard DX)
Other than that, the nature of the missile(as a theatre-level tactical ballistic missile) might cause tension between neighboring countries.While it is a great deterrent weapon,it also might cause other countries to develop/acquire similar capabilities as well and arm race standoff is the last thing ASEAN countries need(not just it will scare investor and thus dampen economy,it will also make the friendly,mutual relationship that have been made decades,or even centuries ago,to become tense,or even being cut off entirely).
What important first is to completely modernize our armed force to be a network-based integrated tri-service of the 21st century,like Republic Of Korea Armed Force and Japan Self Defence Force.After that,sky is the limit for us.
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