Russia has agreed to sell Iran 90 missile launchers that it is using in war against Ukraine, - FT
Russia has agreed to supply Iran with 90 launchers for guided missiles, which it is using in the war against Ukraine. However, there is currently no confirmation that the weapons have already been delivered to Tehran.
According to Censor.NET, Financial Times reported this.
According to the publication, this involves 90 APU-L and APU-305 launchers, which are mounted on helicopters. They are designed to launch the Russian LMUR light multi-purpose guided missile, also known as "Izdeliye 305."
Journalists gained access to production schedules from one of Russia’s leading defense enterprises for 2024 and 2025. The documents list an export order for these launchers for a buyer with the code designation "K-10." As the publication discovered, Iran appears under this code in the documentation.
However, the documents do not confirm that the ordered weapons were ultimately delivered to Tehran. Russia also plans to export similar launchers to China.
It is noted that Iran already possesses Russian Mi-28 attack helicopters, which can carry such launchers.
How Russia and Iran are deepening their military cooperation
According to Western intelligence assessments, Moscow and Tehran have grown even closer in the military sphere during this year’s war in the Middle East. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to assert that Russia provides almost no assistance to Iran.
The Financial Times also recalls the two countries’ previous military cooperation. In particular, Russia helped Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles, sold it anti-aircraft missiles, and cooperated with Tehran on issues related to nuclear weapons.
At the same time, Moscow is trying not to cross the line in its support for Iran, so as not to worsen relations with other Middle Eastern countries and the United States.
Hanna Notte, director of the "Eurasia" Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, noted that Russia continues to face certain limitations on its involvement in the war. In her assessment, Moscow’s assistance is useful to Tehran from an operational standpoint, but it is not capable of radically changing the course of the fighting.
