Algeria will publicly unveil its Iskander-E road-mobile short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) on MZKT-7930 (8×8) chassis during the country’s upcoming military parade.
Algeria’s acquisition of the Iskander-E makes it the second foreign operator of the system after Armenia.
The Iskander-E, an export variant of Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile system, enhances Algeria’s precision-strike options. Each of the four systems acquired is mounted on the versatile MZKT-7930 vehicle platform, which provides high mobility and is designed for rapid deployment across varying terrain.
Known by NATO as the SS-26 Stone, the Iskander-E has a range of 280 kilometers, keeping it within Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) standards. Despite the shorter range, it achieves an accuracy of a circular error probable (CEP) of 30-70 meters and uses an inertial guidance system to enhance precision.
Algeria received 4 regiments of Iskander E systems from 2014 to 2017. A missile regiment consists of about fifty vehicles and 48 missiles: 12 launchers, 12 missile carriers and loaders, 11 vehicles of command and personnel, and other vehicles.
The 9K720 Iskander missile system is a hypersonic ballistic missile system developed by Russia. It is designed to engage a variety of targets, including enemy fortifications, air and missile defense systems, and high-value targets such as command and control centers. The system is highly mobile, making it difficult to detect and target. It has a range of up to 500 km and can reach speeds of up to Mach 6. It is equipped with multiple warheads, making it highly lethal and versatile.
The system’s specifications include advanced guidance and targeting technology, aligning with Algeria’s ongoing efforts to modernize its military forces.
Meanwhile, Algeria continues to undertake a significant arms acquisition program designed to enhance its regional position amid regional security uncertainties.
The country is reported to be in talks with China to acquire SY-400 Chinese-made short-range ballistic missiles.
