I have often said that when the East Europeans agreed to deploy the US “it is against Iran but really it is against Russia” anti-missile system all they did was paint a big bullseye on themselves. This is not quite so, in reality they painted not one, but two big bullseyes on themselves. The first one are the Russian Spetsnaz forces, but that is not the one I want to focus on today. The second one is the Iskander-M Operational-Tactical Missile System.
“Operational-Tactical” refers to the missions and capabilities of what is a family of missiles which can be fired from the Iskander Transporter erector launcher (TEL) which includes ballistic as well as cruise missile and short range as well as intermediate range missiles. The actual numbers are, of course, kept secret, but it appears that the range of these missiles can, depending on the model and configuration, be anywhere between 250km to 500km and with some variant capable of reaching 2000km. According to Wikipedia, the missile is a “stealthy” one, meaning it has a very small radar cross section, it can execute evasive maneuvers with 30G turns, it flies at hypersonic speeds (max 6-7) and it can be remotely controlled from ground operators, UAV and even AWACS aircraft. The missile also uses satellite guidance and optical terminal guidance. Best of all, it’s accuracy is officially an excellent a 5-7 meters, which means that in reality the Russian (non-export) variant probably has a 2-3 meter CEP. The missile’s conventional warhead types include including a cluster munition warhead, a fuel-air explosive enhanced-blast warhead, a tactical earth penetrator for bunker busting and an electro-magnetic pulse device (EMP) for anti-radar missions (source). The missile can also carry a 5-50 kiloton nuclear warhead. One way to sum this entire paragraph up is to say that there is no way to escape the Iskander-M.
Well done, East Europeans, I hope that you feel “safer” now…
Here is an interesting video showing the launch and strike of the Iskander-M on a simulated enemy command post. Enjoy!
The Saker
As a military expert, The Saker could examine Russia’s options since NATO-GCC have started shipping MANPADS to their rats in Syria.
What is the best possible response? Provide Hezbollah/Houthis/PKK with similar weapons? Use tactical ballistic missiles against the rats? Something else?
What is the best possible response?
To use aircraft at 5000m and higher and to use attack helicopters with long range missiles and advanced MANPADS jamming pods for low-level attacks.
These MANPADS are not so much a threat for the Russians, as they are for the Syrians who do low-level close air support with fairly old aircraft.
But the worst part is the threat these MANPADS for civilian airliners. The Americans are dumb-crazy to let that kind of weapons get into Daesh and al-Qaeda hands. That is were these weapons are the most dangerous.
HTH, cheers,
The Saker
But isn’t taking those pro-active measures a serious compromising factor for the RuAF and the SyAF in this war against NATO proxies? Won’t it negatively affect the efficiency of the Air Superiority that the SAA has enjoyed so far in this war?
Why not also respond in kind against NATO-GCC by providing their local enemies with similar weapons?
As for the danger for Airliners, well, I am sure that the vast majority of Air Traffic in that region involves Western Airlines, GCC Airlines as well as Turkish Airlines. I won’t shed a single tear for their planes.
After reading your comment Saker, I again admired how far ahead in the game Russian military planers are. Because the “attack helicopters” are in place in Syria already. I was wondering why to replace jets for helicopters and now I know.
Here’s a really nice article on this very thing; Why Russia Withdrew Su-25 Assault Aircraft From Syria but Brought in Attack Helicopters
And note that the new choppers came in on the supposedly empty freight transports that flew in to begin the draw down of equipment.
What is the best possible US response? Dismantle NATO, economic/social/political engagement with Russia, and refocus on the Western Hemisphere. And a Donald J. Trump Presidency!
Eastern Ukraine, Syria and Yemen (including some other countries like Libya, etc.) are mainly avoided by international civilian air-traffic.
There are some exceptions, like MEA flights needing to land in Beirut, these sometimes require Syrian airspace.
The Russians seem to be planning selling the ‘President S’ counter-measures system for civilian use. So every cloud has a silver lining. I suspect there will be delivery problems for any Anglo-Zionist airline interested in acquiring it.
Being Eastern European, I feel very comfortable and safe. Not because of NATO, but despite it.
1, Putin is a sane and highly intelligent man. Suffiently intelligent to be able to avert the Empire’s plans to escalate tentions into a hot war.
2, I feel safe because I’ve heard Putin speaking about the Slavic question. In contrast to all inept and/or disinfo propagandists – the ones babbling about the Russia’s Euroasiatic civilizational choices – , he has absolutely no doubt that Slavs do form an unbreakable spiritual family.
3, Putin aims to strenghten the system of international relations based on rule of law and mutual interests. Such a system is direct opposite from puerille phallic/rocket comparisons.
D’accord.but Putin meanwhile is to strenghten his military
“.but Putin meanwhile is to strengthen his military”
Sometimes the best way to negotiate, especially when negotiating with psychopaths, is over the barrel of a gun.
Yes, guys, it is Putin’s duty to strenghten Russias military; and he is dutifully doing that. But his cautious preparation for defense is very dissimilar to deriving carnal pleasure from fantasizing about burning millions of non-Russian Slavs in themonuclear warfare. Putin is not sick.
Right, ask almost any Pole…
I’ve just seen this video on another site- scary to watch but at least we know this one is in the right hands…
Speaking of Easter European paranoia and stupidity- Polish ministers are mouthing off again and calling Russia “existential threat”. Pathetic, truly pathetic. No brain in them or any attempt to be neutral, friendly, understanding, to seek solutions which don’t involve sabre rattling, sanctions and wishing/expecting Russia to fall apart any day. It’s like they haven’t read their own history to check how Britain and “allies” protected them last time.
None of this is news I know but I find it hard to watch in fellow Slavic nation which should by now, have understood the pecking order and the broad direction of travel for NATO and the West.
It’s the pathology of the ruling classes of eastern Europe and southern Europe as well to believe that the more servile they are towards the West, the better.
Their permanent fantasy over becoming “Western” has ailed them for centuries. I don’t think this pathology will subside anytime soon.
“Their permanent fantasy over becoming ‘Western’ has ailed them for centuries. I don’t think this pathology will subside anytime soon.”
Absolutely correct, Stavros. However, it has to be recognized that today there is much stronger consensus regarding this reactionary worldview in Eastern and Southern Europe. The ruling classes there are Western stooges to boot and they have very little problems passing their Euro-chauvinism on to their subject populations who know all too well the difference between First World extravagance and Third World squalor.
‘Polish ministers are mouthing off again and calling Russia “existential threat”’.
Ironically enough, that is perfectly true: Russia is one of two nations capable of utterly destroying Poland. But only if the Poles attack Russia in such a way that the Russians have to use extreme measures to defend themselves. (Or if the Poles are associated with such an attack by “someone else”, which in practice is far more likely. “YFU-YTU”**).
“Cet animal est tres mechant;
Quand on l’attaque, il se defend”.
** “You f**ked up – you trusted us”
Tom,
Poles should know it very well, but they seem to forget (maybe ruling classes conveniently developed a blind spot on their brains, that is if they have one) how the the agreements with UK and France pan out. Their hopes ended in smoke September 01, 1939 as those two before said countries did nothing. Poland was overrun in one week except for the Westerplatte which lasted a little longer.
Now they are pining their hopes on someone who is 5000 miles away from Poland, but not from Russia.
Damn that history, it likes to repeat itself, yet people do not learn.
Regards,
Well there is no surprise they are mouthing off – covering up their skull duggery in the Baltic with the US:
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=15464
And this story today:
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160419/1038269339/poland-forester-helicopters.html
A man in a forest is now claiming Russia violated Polish air space – hmmmm. These lies are getting beyond ridiculous.
I don’t know about the Europeans but I feel safer with the mighty Russian military. In fact I feel the adrenaline of a tiger just reading this analysis.
And therein lies the danger. Power can be an addiction in the wrong hands. Or it can be a deterrent. In this case against the empire itself.
So far Russia has shown herself to be a lover of mankind rather than a killer. She’s not perfect but she’s the best we’ve got.
I love Russian power. I might even be addicted to it. But I hope and I pray that the Russia of today will not become an addict herself on a future day and succumb to the seductions of empire.
I don’t see much hope that the Russian people will see that usury will kill them in the end but maybe after the next elections Putin will make his final move to checkmate the imperial king of finance. But he may not see the danger himself or may not want to take the risk which will be deeply disappointing but not unlikely.
Usury, interest, speculation, making money with money. Call it what you will. It is the essence of empire power and unless it is checkmated will kill us all in the end.
Like I said, the man in me loves power for a just cause. In the Song of Songs or the Canticle of Canticles or the Song of Solomon power is linked to love. The Beloved is likened to an army in battle array on a glorious and fateful day.
For us as a species that day has come and it has come to slay the dragon or be slain. Be Able or be Cain.
I hope my rhetoric is not too overwrought. I’m moving out of my depression state into a manic one but somewhere in the middle there’s a truth moving through the vineyard like a tiger in the forest.
“Tiger, tiger burning bright in the forest of the night.” William Blake
Dennis,
“In fact I feel the adrenaline of a tiger just reading this analysis.” this was so good at the beginning,you made me smile in my sadness…man,that’s why I like your comments
Thanks. I felt a bit like a tiger when I read about the Russian bear but ordinarily I’m quite timid and anxious. I feel fear every time I check in here. From very early I felt like the world is a dangerous place. This site deals with war and empire and touches upon deep seated evil
That’s not where I want to go. I’d rather be safe, warm and cozy. But if it were not for the Russian military my nice world might blow up or grind down to a prison. I have to force myself to go into the dark side even if behind a computer screen.
I’m pretty cool on the outside but inside I’m sitting on a black hole of anxiety and fear.
With literature I can read about the men tigers from a safe distance but I don’t know what I’d do if a rifle was forced on me and I had to fight for my country. Maybe I could be a tiger. Who knows until we’re actually there. Ideas and analysis are important too but safer than being on the front-lines.
“In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility; but when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger.” Henry V
“but I don’t know what I’d do if a rifle was forced on me and I had to fight for my country”
A strong sense of right and wrong, a good understanding of if you are fighting an offensive war or a defensive war is needed. I guess that is why a lot of armies take in kids/young people. Physically very capable but too young to form opinions.
PTSD is a big problem in “western” military. Kids/young people unable to handle what they have seen and done. Since WWII at least, a big part of US war is against civilians.
Fear? Fear of death – of being maimed – a different thing. This is something any intelligent person has a fear of. A natural instinct for surviving same as any living creature.
I guess it comes down to red lines. Die on your feet or live on your knees. For a lot of circumstances, compromise is needed, but somewhere there must be a red line.
For me, I have accomplished what I wanted to in life.
A lot of compromise at times, but on one occasion a red line was reached and the other side had to compromise.
Too many psychopaths in this world to rely on love alone Denis. Sometimes a gun is needed.
Not to butt in, but this is a public forum and not a private email exchange.
Try this out for size: The opposite of fear IS Love!
Few things take the amount of courage needed to fully open your heart to another that you love, at the risk of your very being, practically speaking, Spiritually, Love = Courage
The whole world outlook of the Hegemon is based on Fear. They are terrified (and Loveless). The only way they can maintain control is to drive down the spirit of humanity under the ground, through Fear, by slaying the Goddess, immolating the Sacred Feminine. Bunch of mofos!!
You may think I’m kidding. I’m not. Actually I just made an original discovery on this theme which involves neither numerology nor symbology (working on that language too…….a picture is worth a thousand words…….a symbol is worth a thousand pictures…………….a sigil (composition of symbols such as DaVinci’s Last Supper) https://youtu.be/iV6_wTrkd70 is worth a thousand symbols or a million words…………………..
No, mine is on ‘green language’ word play by the enemy. I’ll try to get it ready for the next Cafe.
Meanwhile, Dennis might be a lamb if he was alone and the Gestapo came to his door.
But if they came with the intent to slay the Goddess of Love and rape his wife, lover or mother, and his brother in arms thrust an AK-47 into his hands, I kind of think his kitten might just turn into a tiger that would know what to do.
It is good to feel fear……because it means you know the truth about the evil that is going on in this world and deep down inside you know where it is going and what are the inevitable consequences of this evil. This fear also helps you from avoiding to be part of this evil.
It is better to have this fear and knowledge of the truth than being someone who is ignorant or in a state of denial.
As for these missiles…..they will eventually be used, there is no doubt in my mind. It is absolutely inevitable. The US elite and there Zionist masters are setting up the US for their final showdown.
All oppressor states and nations are finished off in one form or another and are severally punished by God.The level of punishment completely depends on their level of oppression. And I think it is safe to say that the US state is one of the greatest oppressors in the history of mankind.
Even if you disregard their military oppression, it is clear that their economic oppression (usury, debt, monetary system, use of sanctions, etc.) is unprecedented in human history. So just on the basis of the economic oppression, they qualify for the severest of punishments by the all mighty and the total annihilation of their capability to rule and the annihilation of their population.Whether the population is innocent or not is irrelevant in the act of annihilation, since each soul will receive its judgement after it has left its body.
How their annihilation will come about, only God knows. It can be through their arrogance which blinds them from seeing their own destruction, it can be in the form of an accident or simply by antagonizing an adversary to attack them first.
In any case, the US (rulers, elite, etc.) and only the US will be responsible for their own destruction, since they ruled the world with great arrogance, oppression, crime and corruption unlike anything witnessed in human history.
How all other NATO nations and allies of this oppressor state will fair, is a matter of discussion, but they will most likely receive a similar punishment, even if to a lesser degree than the US.
For those who believe that Russia and China are somehow innocent in this oppression, you need to think that these great nations are also accomplices to this global economic oppression setup by the Western Godless alliance, and if necessary, they will also have to pay for this global corruption, if to a lesser degree.
Very interesting.
This missile is quite the achievement engineering-wise. I would say this is probably the most advanced Russian weapon with the ability to be outfitted cheaply to counter changing threats.
However, it is no game changer in the sense it tilts military advantage towards the Russians. Each of these capabilities already exist in the US arsenal. The US has decisive advantages in low-cost anti-missile technology – lasers and tactical autonomous drones that could swarm and patrol any zone.
I also think the move to place missiles in Europe by the US was a very intelligent tactical move. Now you’ve doubled the space Russia would need to control militarily in a hot war, you’ve tied the European’s to the US NATO cause, and you’ve basically made it impossible to secure you’re borders unless you are extremely proactive… Hence, the national guard. Just in time for color revolutions to Russia’s south in the Eurasian chess game.
Are you saying that the US Army can intercept these missiles?
Who knows what the true capabilities are for missile defense. I know the US has all the same capabilities so at the very least they are equal or close. The 30g maneuvering is interesting as it could be re-directed real time if an incoming object trying to take it down approached.
I do know work was done on a massive flying anti-missile laser system in the US with Boeing. This is public knowledge. It was deemed a ‘failure’ at the time but who knows what the truth was.
You would probably have to take the iskanders down before they became hyper-sonic during re entry.
Knowing the exact capabilities of either side is difficult, but from what I can make out, there are defences for missiles traveling at mach 5-7 as long as they are traveling in a ballistic trajectory. When the missiles start manoeuvring at that speed there doesn’t seem to be any defence.
At the moment Russia seems several generations ahead in electronics, S-400 S-500 but also in EW.
A year or so ago OSCE in Ukraine were complaining their surveillance drones were crashing with burnt out circuit boards. A video somebody here put up links to showed warheads with proximity fuses being detonated before they could reach their targets.
And then there is the Chinese hypersonic glide missile which is capable of manoeuvring at mach 10 when it re-enters the atmosphere.
Lasers seem to be good only for short range within the atmosphere and need to hold on the target for a second or so. No doubt the lasers will improve, but I think currently surface lasers only have a range of a kilometer or so and are only good for drones and small boats.
Pentagon officers admit to surprise (and a certain level of shock) regarding the Kaliper missiles, regarding the jamming of communications and radar in Syria that it can’t even detect the source of – not to mention those things not officially admitted yet, including the shoot-down of the US cruise missiles heading to Syria during the chemical weapon incident, and the definite buzzing and possible jamming of the old Donald Cook itself, twice now if you include last week.
No, the US is far behind the curve with regard to Russian weaponry, and in some respects Chinese and perhaps Iranian also. And one look at F-35 says the US war machine can’t build anything new anymore. If Boeing’s project was deemed a failure, odds are good it’s because it failed.
We only know the cards they show.
In my opinion it makes sense to appear weak up front, feigning weakness.
Working inside the industry I can tell you the US is not behind, at least not from my perspective. It’s just too easy to dismiss American engineering when in facts it’s very good. However, the future is different as the baby boomers are leaving the industry.
If the Russians and Chinese had a decisive military advantage they would be pushing back militarily against the very encroachment the US is carrying out. In fact, I doubt we’d play such an offensive posture if we didn’t feel confident playing the position.
Although the Russians supposedly have a very good jamming capability, even jammers can be jammed.
Look up a recent advancement in laser power propagation over long distances in the air by Boeing. Public knowledge.
I’m not pro-war or pro-neoliberalism. But to dismiss the work of a people, right or wrong, with a few sentences is just fool hardy.
US military gadget makers strive to make massive profits…and they succeed! Their design philosophy is Videri quam esse. Troops and Officers motivated by ambitions to personal gain, ie selfishness.
Russ military gadget makers strive to make effective gadgets…and they succeed! Their design philosophy is Esse quam videri. Troops and Officers motivated by morals, ie giving.
Gadgets do not decide outcomes, but effective gadgets are prerequisite to victory.
I too know some things about the US gadget makers…and their gadgets. I am impressed, yes indeed! Impressed by what’s going on behind the gadgets – looting. Nice looking stuff on the outside though. The term “Whited Sepulchers” might describe them.
In view of all I know and can reason, If I were to find myself in combat, I should prefer to have at my disposal the better gadgets and with me the better comrades.
Which Army has those?
Pax
Maybe you’ve read about “Breakthrough Starshot” – a project to send small spacecraft to far-away stars, using a 100 billion-watt light beam generated by an array of lasers. There was some hype in the media about the project – scientist Stephen Hawking, billionaire philanthropist Yuri Milner are part of the project to send spacecraft to the stars.
Except that “Breakthrough Starshot” is not a project to send spacecraft to the stars. The specifications are those of a weapon intended to blind or damage spy satellites and incoming ballistic missiles. Whether the project will come to fruition is another matter; the technical challenges in building a phased array of lasers are high.
Wrong : Iskander-M has 5-7m CEP (which is more than enough for such a missile).
Iskander-E has 40-50m CEP.
I don’t understand : on all the videos i have seen of Iskander missiles until now, it was always a hot launch.
In this video it appears to be a cold launch ?
Hi, it might be the cruise missile variant.
Yes that was it.
Thank you !