MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. Russia’s Iskander-M tactical missile systems will be moved by almost 800 kilometers (497 miles) for live-firing exercises on the Kapustin Yar shooting range near Astrakhan in south Russia, the Southern Military District’s press office reported on Wednesday.
"As part of a planned tactical exercise, Iskander tactical missile units of the Southern Military District have embarked on a march by a combined method to the Kapustin Yar shooting range in the Astrakhan Region. The march will be almost 800 km long," the district’s press office said.
The drills will culminate in Iskander tactical missile live-firing against various ground targets and infrastructure facilities of a simulated enemy, the press office said.
Previous reports said the drills on the shooting ranges of the Southern Military District would involve about 9,000 troops and 3,000 pieces of missile and artillery weaponry, combat and special hardware.
Iskander tactical ballistic missile systems are capable of hitting both small-size and large-area targets at a distance of up to 500 km to destroy missile and multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery guns, aircraft and helicopters at aerodromes, command posts and communications centers.
The Iskander tactical ballistic missile complex includes a launcher, a loader-transporter, a routine maintenance vehicle, a command post vehicle, an information post, an ammunition equipment set and training aids.