Algeria unveils Russian-made Iskanderballistic missiles in show of force

Recently leaked photos of Russian Iskander-E ballistic missile systems provide visual confirmation that Algeria has added these advanced short-range missiles to its defense arsenal, according to military bloggers.

The images were reportedly taken during practice drills for an upcoming military parade to mark the 70thanniversary of the beginning of the Algerian War of Independence. 

Defense News reports Algeria is the first Arab nation to purchase these missile systems.  

In 2018, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported the delivery of four regiments of Iskander missile systems to Algeria, with each regiment including 12 launch platforms and around 30 support vehicles.

These high-precision missiles have a range of up to 310 miles in the Russian version, while the export model, Iskander-E, has a range of 174 miles.

Algeria’s military spending has surged in recent years, reaching $21 billion in 2024—more than twice the level in 2020, according to Research and Markets. This increase is attributed to heightened terrorism threats from Libya and Mali, alongside rising tensions with Morocco.