FT: Russia secretly helped Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles

Russia has secretly assisted Iran in developing advanced supersonic cruise missiles capable of threatening U.S. aircraft carriers and other warships in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times investigation.

The multiyear programme, codenamed C430L, began in 2023 and involved some of Russia’s most experienced missile specialists, according to leaked Russian correspondence, travel records and an analysis of military patents reviewed by the newspaper.

The programme has focused on helping Iran develop a ramjet propulsion system, which enables cruise missiles to maintain speeds several times faster than sound. Missile and military experts cited by the FT said the technology was almost certainly intended for anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.

According to the investigation, the cooperation continued even after the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, with leaked correspondence indicating that discussions over the programme continued into the summer.

By Sabina Mammadli