Russia has secretly assisted Iran in developing hypersonic cruise missiles capable of threatening US warships in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times investigation published this week.
اضافة اعلان
The report cited experts who said the transfer of this military technology to Tehran could not have happened without approval from Russian leadership. The program, code-named C340L, began in 2023 and continued through the recent escalation in the US-Iran conflict.
The initiative is aimed at helping Iran develop a "hyper-jet propulsion" system, an engine that would allow a cruise missile to fly at supersonic speeds. Jim Lamson, a former military analyst with the US Central Intelligence Agency, said the technology would give Iran "a qualitatively new strategic weapons system that could threaten US Navy ships."
Supersonic cruise missiles are difficult to intercept because they fly at low altitudes, staying close to the ground to evade radar detection, at speeds of up to 2,200 miles per hour. Iran has developed and tested a "combustible jet propulsion" system, according to the report, though there is no evidence it has been used in the field.
Fabian Hinz, an Iranian missile expert, described the transfer as involving "highly sensitive strategic military technology from Russia, which the Iranians have sought to acquire for decades." He added that a program of this scale "requires political approval from the leadership in Russia."
Russian State Firms Coordinated the Project
According to the report, Russia's state-owned arms export company, Rosoboronexport, coordinated the project with Russian missile manufacturer NPO Mashinostroyeniya, which has been under US sanctions since 2014.
The cooperation forms part of a broader military partnership between Moscow and Tehran. Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones used in nighttime attacks on Ukrainian cities, while separate reports have indicated Russia provided Iran with intelligence that helped it target American bases in the Middle East.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday that Moscow was "trying to provide the assistance you need during this difficult period," adding that Russia was "supplying you with the goods you need during the war."
Escalation Continues Between Washington and Tehran
The report comes as the confrontation between the United States and Iran has escalated sharply since the weekend, following more than a month of relative calm. On Sunday, US forces struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, before carrying out further strikes on Tuesday.Iran responded by launching drones and missiles at American targets in the region.
Source: Al-Ghad, citing the Financial Times. (Agencies)
