Report: Russia secretly helped Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles
A secret Russian program, ongoing since 2023, is designed to help Iran develop advanced propulsion technology. This development helps Iran close a critical gap in its armament capabilities and produce particularly lethal weapons. As part of the program, Russia has repeatedly sent its leading scientists to Iran.
A Financial Times investigation reveals extensive Russian aid to Iran aimed at developing advanced supersonic cruise missiles. The program, codenamed C430L, began in 2023 and continued through 2026, including during the war between the USA, Israel, and Iran. The project was approved at the highest levels in both countries.
Within this framework, Iran utilized the expertise of senior Russian missile specialists to develop a ramjet propulsion system, a technology that allows cruise missiles to maintain flight at speeds several times the speed of sound. The military significance of this technology is substantial: supersonic cruise missiles combine high speed with low-altitude flight, making them difficult for air defense systems to detect and intercept.
Technological Cooperation
Cooperation went beyond the mere transfer of blueprints. Senior engineers from NPO Mashinostroyeniya traveled repeatedly to Iran even before the official contract was signed in November 2023. According to the documents, Russian experts analyzed data from Iranian flight tests, helped identify system failures, and provided consultations on fuel systems, combustion stability, and engine nozzle design.
In April 2025, Rosoboronexport offered to send a delegation of 20 experts to Iran to analyze flight test results. The program involved key specialists, including Alexander Dergachev, Alexander Chubakov, and Yuri Prokhorchuk, whose names appear on patents for hypersonic ramjet-powered missiles.
Background and Objectives
Iran has spent decades attempting to close the technological gap in its missile arsenal. While the country has developed ballistic missiles, the creation of a supersonic cruise missile remained a key challenge. In August 2023, the Tasnim news agency claimed that Iran had begun testing a prototype, though there is no evidence that such missiles have entered service.
Iranian missile expert Fabian Hinz notes that the value of Russian assistance lies in the practical experience of engineers capable of solving complex technical problems. The C430L program is part of a broader pattern of military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
As of June 2026, the parties were still discussing technical reports and components for the next stage of the project. Vladimir Putin, in a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, confirmed Moscow's intention to provide Iran with the assistance it needs during this difficult period.
