Russia’s Iskander-M tactical missile systems will be upgraded to get new missiles with various warheads and will be capable of operating as part of the reconnaissance and fire network, said an article published in the thematic bulletin, “2018 Missile and Artillery Technical Provision for the Russian Armed Forces,” earlier this week.

 “The Iskander-M tactical missile system will be further developed in the following major areas: expanding the inventory of missiles with various types of warheads and increasing the missile system’s combat capabilities, creating precision missiles with high combat efficiency,” said the article written by the staff of the Russian Defense Ministry’s 3rd Central Research Institute and published in the thematic bulletin.

The article noted the need to provide for the missile system’s use “both in the de-centralized mode and as part of the reconnaissance and fire network.”

In general, there are plans to considerably improve the Iskander-M’s performance characteristics to enable it to operate in any weather conditions and reliably breach any advanced missile defense systems, the article said.

“The Tochka-U tactical missile system is close to using up its service life and will probably be decommissioned in the troops. In this situation, the Iskander-M will become the baseline weapon system in the Ground Forces’ missile troops,” the article noted.

It was reported earlier that Russia’s missile troops and artillery will be rearmed with Iskander-M tactical missile systems in 2019.