First Russian brigade with Iskander missiles to be formed in 2010

Russian armed forces will form its first brigade fully equipped with short-range Iskander missile systems, said Russian Missile Forces and Artillery Commander Sergei Bogatinov Saturday.

"We will form the first missile brigade armed with 12 Iskander missile systems by the end of 2010," Bogatinov told Echo Moskvy radio.

"Such a brigade will be formed by the end of 2010, and then we will consistently form one more missile brigade each year," he added.

Five Iskander missile systems will be bought next year, he said.

A battalion armed with Iskander missile systems has already been set up in the Russian armed forces. It has successfully conducted exercises at the Kapustin Yar, a Russian rocket launch and development site, from Nov. 2 to Nov. 7, said Bogatinov.

The high-precision tactical Iskander missile systems with a range between 300 to 500 kilometers are to replace the 120-kilometer Tochka missile system, he said.

Source: Xinhua