Russia Secretly Helps Iran Build Supersonic Missiles

Moscow is providing Tehran with technical expertise to develop a new generation of guided missiles capable of threatening US aircraft carriers and other military vessels in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times (FT) investigation based on leaked correspondence, travel records and military patents.

The newspaper reports that the classified program, designated C430L, began in 2023 and continued even during Iran's war with the United States and Israel. Its goal is to develop a ramjet engine enabling the missile to fly at several times the speed of sound, for use against both land and sea targets.

The program is coordinated by the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport in collaboration with NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the FT reports. Several experienced Russian engineers have reportedly traveled repeatedly to Iran to analyze flight-test results and help resolve technical issues.

Tehran has reportedly already built and tested the engine, but there is no evidence that it has deployed the finished missile, developed with Russian assistance, in an actual conflict.

The cooperation deepens military ties between the two countries. Iran previously supplied Russia with Shahed drones and helped establish their production, according to the FT. The Kremlin, Rosoboronexport, NPO Mashinostroyeniya and the Iranian government did not respond to requests for comment.

(ft, bak)