The Russian military plans to deploy Iskander-M tactical missiles in all four of its future military districts, the chief of Russia's Armed Forces General Staff said on Thursday.
In line with Russia's ongoing military reform, the number of military districts will be cut from six to four by December 1, 2010. In the future, the military districts will be replaced by unified strategic commands.
"We will have brigades equipped with Iskander missiles in every military district," Gen. Nikolai Makarov told reporters in Moscow.
The general said the supply of the Iskander-M missiles is a priority in the development and rearmament of the Russian army.
The Iskander-M system (NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone) is equipped with two solid-propellant single-stage 9M723K1 guided missiles with "quasi-ballistic" capability. The missiles have a range of 400 km (250 miles) and can reportedly carry conventional and nuclear warheads.
Russia is planning to equip at least five missile brigades with Iskander-M systems by 2016.
MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti)
