US officials first divulged that Tehran had begun transferring launchers for the Fath ballistic missile system in 2024.
Sharing a mutual disdain for what they perceive as American hegemony, Russia and Iran are leaning on each other more to fulfill their respective defense needs. From unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles to airframes and other munitions, the exchange of military systems between these two rogue allies is on the rise. Russia has been largely isolated from the international community for its Ukraine invasion, while Iran has been sanctioned for its nuclear-related pursuits, building up this co-reliant relationship. Last month, reports indicated that Tehran was gearing up to deliver its Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile launchers to Moscow. While arms exchanges between the two nations have ramped up in recent years, this move signifies an even stronger partnership.
The Fath 360
Based on Iranian claims and video analysis of the nation’s Fath-360, the short-range ballistic missile could have a maximum range of 120km with a warhead weighing roughly 150 kg. This range would allow Moscow to preserve its most advanced missiles with longer ranges for other uses. The Fath-360 was first unveiled in 2020 and reportedly saw combat use in 2022 as part of Iran’s barrages against Iraqi Kurdistan. According to Breaking Defense, the claimed velocity of the Fath 360 is Mach 4.0 (times the speed of sound). When it comes to Iran’s military systems, however, specs and capabilities are often exaggerated by the regime.
US officials first divulged that Tehran had begun transferring launchers for the Fath ballistic missile system in 2024. “The United States has confirmed reports that Iran has transferred shipments of Fath 360 close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which we assess could employ them within weeks against Ukraine, leading to the deaths of even more Ukrainian civilians,” said then-Pentagon press secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
What About Drones?
In addition to transferring components for ballistic missiles, Tehran has delivered scores of lethal UAVs to Moscow since early on in the war. Western intelligence and the Ukrainian government have confirmed the sale, delivery, training, and use of a wide range of Iranian-designed lethal UAVs by Russian forces over the last three-plus years. Images and footage depicting both the Iranian Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 UAVs used in Russian-launched attacks targeting energy and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv have been well documented. This “kamikaze” series of drones is rather simple in design, but when deployed in swarms, it can be lethal. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Moscow has increased its deployment of these Iranian drones from roughly 200 launches per week to more than 1,000 per week by early 2025.
As the war rages on, Moscow’s stockpile of Iranian-designed arms will only increase. In April, Russian president Vladimir Putin ratified a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with his Iranian counterpart. As detailed in the pact, extended defense cooperation between the two nations will further cement the alliance. The Fath 360 and Shahed UAV series may not be the only Iranian weapons to land in the hands of Russia’s armed forces for long.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Fars Media Corporation, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
