Russia has secretly helped Iran develop hypersonic cruise missiles — FT
Tehran has tested a missile developed with Russia's assistance, but it is unclear whether it has been adopted into the armed forces.
Russia has been helping Iran develop modern hypersonic cruise missiles since 2023 under a secret program codenamed C430L. The Financial Times reported this in its investigation based on leaked correspondence, travel data, and analysis of military patents reported.
According to FT data, the program continued even after the start of the US and Israeli war against Iran.
The main goal of the C430L program was to help Iran develop a ramjet engine used in cruise missiles. Such an engine allows the missile to fly at speeds several times higher than the speed of sound.
The program was organized by Russia through Rosoboronexport, and the project was coordinated in cooperation with NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Leading Russian experts in missile production also participated in it.
According to experts, the technologies being developed could be used in missiles striking ships as well as ground targets.
According to FT data, Iran has already created a ramjet engine and conducted flight tests of it. However, there is currently no evidence that the hypersonic cruise missile developed with Russian assistance has been adopted for service.
FT also recalled that in June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in response to strikes on Russian territory with Western weapons, Moscow could deliver "similar weapons" to other regions of the world for use against sensitive facilities of countries carrying out such strikes. The publication noted that the C430L program was already active at that time.
