Russia is secretly assisting Iran in the development of supersonic cruise missiles. Experts believe these missiles are likely intended for use against ships and for land-attack missions. The London-based newspaper The Financial Times (FT) reported these details on Wednesday morning (September 2).
According to the FT report, the program—codenamed C430L—began in 2023. It was organized by Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, in coordination with NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a company currently under US sanctions.
FT data indicates that Russian arms export officials and senior engineers from NPO Mashinostroyeniya visited Iran multiple times in 2023.
The visiting engineers included Alexander Dergachev, chief designer of sea-launched missile and cruise missile complexes; Alexander Chebakov, head of the air-breathing propulsion unit design department and an expert in supersonic ramjet propulsion for cruise missiles; and Yuri Prokhorchuk, head of the aerodynamics and ballistics department.
The FT further reported that Vladislav Kuzmichev, head of Rosoboronexport’s defense technology and space division, accompanied the delegation during a third visit to Iran. He subsequently held discussions with Iran regarding the C430L agreement.
By 2025, NPO Mashinostroyeniya had received various technical documents and materials from Iran. Russian engineers analyzed these items and raised questions on several aspects.
A letter dated April 2025, obtained by the FT, reveals that Rosoboronexport proposed sending a delegation of Russian experts to Iran. Tehran was urged to provide answers to the Russian engineers’ questions prior to the visit. Fabian Hinz, an Iranian missile expert and senior analyst at the UK-based arms-tracking organization Conflict Armament Research, told the FT that many people interpret technology transfer solely as the shipment of designs, components, or complete missiles.
However, he noted that sending a 60-year-old engineer to apply their experience in solving problems is also extremely valuable.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s stance regarding the war involving Iran and the resulting sanctions. He also stated that Moscow and Tehran could jointly counter what he termed US “unilateralism.”
