Moscow’s hidden hand in Iran’s missile ambitions

Russia has been secretly aiding Iran in developing advanced supersonic cruise missiles through a covert multi-year program, potentially granting Tehran access to a strategically significant technology, according to the Financial Times. The program, known as C430L, commenced in 2023 and involves Russia's top missile specialists. The goal is to assist Iran in creating a ramjet propulsion system, enabling cruise missiles to reach several times the speed of sound.

Reports from the Financial Times suggest that the program continued even during the recent US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Experts believe this technology transfer is highly strategically sensitive and would require top-level political clearance in Russia. The ramjet technology could be used in both anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, which are faster and lower-flying than conventional missiles, making them harder to detect and counter.

Iran has already built and tested the ramjet propulsion system, though there's no confirmation of a deployed supersonic cruise missile with Russian assistance. The leaked correspondence indicates ongoing discussions about the program, highlighting deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. This collaboration follows a series of Iran's drone deliveries to Russia during its war in Ukraine and accusations of Russian assistance to Iran during its conflict with the US and Israel.

Meanwhile, the US and Iran are engaged in a widening military confrontation, with the US conducting strikes against Iranian military targets and Iran responding with ballistic missile operations.