The Financial Times reported on 2 September 2026 that Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles under a covert program, codenamed C430L, that began in 2023 and continued into the US-Israeli war against Iran that started in February 2026. The program aims to give Iran a propulsion system for missiles capable of threatening US warships. Iran has built and flight-tested the system, though no Russian-assisted missile has yet been deployed.
The two sides signed a formal contract with Iran’s defense ministry in November 2023, following repeated visits by Russian officials and engineers to Iran. The program continued into 2026, with Russia preparing technical reports and the two sides discussing a next phase as of a June 2026 letter.
Efforts Category: Iran-Russia Military Cooperation
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