Russia helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles
Russia has been helping Iran to develop supersonic cruise missiles in secret for years, including through the US-Iran war, according to a report.
TheTimesofIsrael • September 2, 2026 ~ Independent
Russia is secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles – report
The FT report indicates that the support continued throughout the US war with Iran, as Tehran intends to develop a new class of weapon capable of threatening US aircraft carriers
Russia has been secretly supporting Iranian missile development since 2023, according to a report in the Financial Times on Tuesday.
The goal of the program, codenamed C430L, was to help Iran develop missiles capable of taking out US Navy aircraft carriers in the Middle East.
In particular, they aimed to develop a ramjet propulsion system that would allow Iranian missiles to fly at several times the speed of sound.
Fast, low-flying missiles would give Western air defences less time to react increasing the impact of such an attack. The transfer of advanced missile technology would have required approval from the highest political echelons in Russia, amid speculation that this was a technology exchange.
Iran supports Russian drone development, and Russia supports Iranian missile development, in addition to the already existing intelligence cooperation between the two.
Leaks seen by the Financial Times showed that preparations for the deal were underway before the deal was signed in November 2023, only a month after October 7.
“Russia is trying to broaden the Ukraine war and draw the US into different theatres,” said Nicole Grajewski, a professor at Sciences Po University in Paris.
Several investigations in recent months have uncovered alleged transfers of military technology from Moscow to Tehran despite the Trump administration’s efforts to play mediator and reopen lines of communication with the Kremlin.
A confidential document uncovered by The Economist earlier this year, suggested that Russia had considered providing Iran with the tools and training needed to fight American soldiers in the Gulf since the conflict in the Middle East erupted.
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