According to the FT, the program, codenamed C430L, began in 2023 and continued during this year’s war involving the United States and Israel.
The program has primarily focused on a ramjet propulsion system. The technology could allow a cruise missile to maintain speeds several times faster than the speed of sound, significantly reducing the time available for US and allied air defense systems to detect and intercept the missile.
Jim Lamson, a former CIA military analyst specializing in Iran, told the FT: “For the Iranians, this would give them a qualitatively new strategic weapon system that could threaten US Navy vessels.”
According to the newspaper, Iran has already developed the propulsion system and conducted flight tests. However, there is no evidence that a Russian-assisted supersonic cruise missile has been deployed or entered service with Iran’s armed forces.