Russia’s Next Ballistic Missile Could Reach 800 Km—and Tests Are Coming This Year

Russia plans to test another missile capable of reaching targets up to 800 kilometers away before the end of 2026, as Moscow continues expanding and modernizing its ballistic arsenal, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, or HUR, said in response to a request from UNIAN on September 28.

Ukrainian intelligence said Russia is increasingly pushing beyond the range restrictions that once shaped its ground-launched missile development.

“Until recently, the Kremlin was restrained only by its desire to conceal violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. That treaty, which prohibited ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km, is no longer in force,” HUR said.

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Investigations

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Russia is also continuing to upgrade the 9M723 ballistic missile used by the Iskander system.

The modernized version is sometimes referred to unofficially as the “Iskander-1000,” although Ukrainian intelligence says the name significantly overstates its actual reach.

“Despite the name ‘Iskander-1000,’ its flight range is 550 km. If the warhead is made lighter, the range can increase to 700 km,” HUR clarified.

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War in Ukraine

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Ukraine has already recorded the upgraded missile in combat. HUR previously said Russia used the newer 9M723-2 version during a combined strike on Kyiv this summer.

At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence believes Moscow is encountering difficulties producing sufficient numbers of its existing 9M723 ballistic missiles, whose standard range is up to roughly 500 kilometers.

“The best confirmation of this is its interest in North Korea’s KN-23-type missiles,” HUR said.

Previously, HUR has pulled apart Russia’s RM-48U ballistic missile, revealing a weapon assembled from repurposed S-300 and S-400 missile components and packed with foreign electronics, including dozens of parts from US-based manufacturers.

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