, MOSCOW [MENL] — Russia has pledged to complete development of a surface-to-surface missile that has been marketed to Iran and Syria.
Officials said the Russian Defense Ministry plans to complete development of the Iskander-E short-range missile. The SS-26 solid-fuel missile has a range of 280 kilometers and is meant to defeat U.S. missile defense systems, such as the PAC-3.
“This year we expect the completion of the state testing of the Iskander high-precision missile system,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Moskovsky said.
Moskovsky told the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya that Moscow has invested in the development of missiles meant to penetrate missile defense systems, particularly those of the United States. He did not rule out that these missiles would be exported to Moscow's clients.
