Secret Supersonic Missile Program
Russia and Iran Advance Secret Supersonic Missile Program in Codenamed Project
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Key Points
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Key Russian engineers and executives named in the FT disclosures led C430L involvement: Alexandr Dergachov (then deputy head of NPO Mashinostroyenia and chief designer of sea-launched missiles and cruise missile systems), Alexandr Chebakov (head of the design department for airbreathing jet engines), and Yuri Prokhorchuk (head of the aerodynamics and ballistics department at NPO Mashinostroyenia and co-author of a patent for a hypersonic cruise missile with a ramjet).
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The program’s timeline includes a contract signing with Iran’s Ministry of Defense in November 2023 and a roughly two-dozen-Russian-specialist delegation visiting Iran in April 2025 for technical consultations.
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Rosoboronexport is described as the organizer of the program, coordinating with NPO Mashinostroyenia, with travel records showing Russian arms export officials and senior engineers visiting Iran before the 2023 contract was signed and continuing in 2025.
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Technically, the program centers on ramjet propulsion for anti-ship and land-attack missiles, with Russian engineers analyzing Iranian flight-test data and raising questions about the ramjet fuel system, combustion stability, intake, and nozzle performance by 2025.
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Analysts have highlighted that such a program would likely require political clearance at the highest level in Russia, and there is no public evidence that any ramjet-powered missile has entered operational service, underscoring the sensitivity and geopolitical implications.
Russia and Iran have been running a secret missile program since 2023 to build supersonic cruise missiles that could threaten US warships in the Middle East, Financial Times has revealed. The project, codenamed C430L, involves top Russian missile engineers and the state arms export company Rosoboronexport, with technical data exchanges and multiple expert visits stretching into 2026.
The missiles use ramjet engines—a propulsion system that lets them fly at extreme speeds and low altitudes, making them harder to defend against. Reuters and other outlets confirmed the FT findings, noting that such a sensitive program would require approval from Russia's highest levels of government.
Secret Contract Signed in Late 2023
The collaboration began with Iran's Ministry of Defense signing a contract in November 2023, according to Financial Times documents. Travel records show Russian arms export officials and senior missile engineers visited Iran multiple times before and after the contract signing, laying the groundwork for the joint effort.
In April 2025, roughly two dozen Russian specialists traveled to Iran for technical talks on the missile design. This sustained exchange indicates a deep, long-term commitment to the program rather than a one-off arms deal.
Russia's Top Missile Experts Leading the Effort
New York Post reporting identified three key Russian figures: Alexandr Dergachov, former deputy head of NPO Mashinostroyenia and chief designer of cruise missile systems; Alexandr Chebakov, head of the jet engine design department; and Yuri Prokhorchuk, head of aerodynamics and ballistics who co-authored a patent on hypersonic ramjet missiles.
These are not junior technicians but senior engineers with decades of experience building Russia's most advanced weapons. Their involvement signals Moscow's intention to transfer cutting-edge missile technology to Tehran.
Ramjet Technology Solves Iran's Speed Problem
The missiles are designed for anti-ship and land-attack roles using ramjet propulsion, which requires no moving compressor and operates at hypersonic speeds. By 2025, Russian engineers were analyzing Iranian flight-test data and troubleshooting ramjet fuel systems, combustion stability, and engine intake performance.
Ramjet missiles are far harder to intercept than slower cruise missiles because they fly lower and faster. This gives Iran a new way to strike US naval forces and regional targets—a major shift in the Persian Gulf military balance.
No Weapons Yet—But Strategic Risk Looms
Financial Times found no evidence that any ramjet-powered missile has entered Iranian service yet. Analysts stress that a program this sensitive would need approval from Russia's top leadership, suggesting high-level political backing in Moscow.
The collaboration underscores deepening Russia-Iran ties since the Ukraine war and poses a long-term threat to US power projection in the Middle East. The ramjet missiles could eventually complicate air defenses across the region and beyond.
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