Russia is secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles - report

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.

The investigation also showed that the support continued throughout the war with Iran in February, and provided significant assistance to Iran during its attacks on the Gulf states.

Iran has long sought to develop a ramjet propulsion system, as far back as 2019, when then supreme leader Ali Khamenei was seen inspecting development sites. Iranian media also reported the testing of ramjet prototypes in August 2023.