Iran's secret missile delivery to Russia revealed in satellite images

All the key details regarding Iran's support for the Russian Federation have been revealed. As noted by the Ukrainian portal Defense Express, satellite images show the equipment's transportation route, exact shipping dates, and, most importantly, the number of Fath-360 missiles sent by Putin's ally.

The first rumours about Iran's intention to support the Russian Federation emerged back in August 2024. This coincided with the visit to Tehran by Russian Security Secretary Sergei Shoigu, who discussed various topics, including deepening the partnership between the two countries, with Iranian President Masud Pezeszkian.

At that time, Iran was reportedly seeking S-400 air defence systems from Russia while also engaging in talks about potentially transferring valuable missiles to the Russian military. Further speculations about Iran's support surfaced when the American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal" reported that arms shipments to Russia had already begun. Shortly thereafter, an Iranian politician confirmed this.

Now, the exact details regarding Iran's transfer of Fath-360 missiles are known, reports Defense Express, citing material from Sky News, where analysts examined satellite images and spoke with anonymous informants from Ukraine.

Experts have determined that the Iranian weapons arrived at the port of Olya on the Caspian Sea, about 100 km north of Astrakhan. Defense Express explains that a nearby range is used for conducting exercises with anti-aircraft guns and testing air defence systems. The missiles from Iran were most likely transported to this range after being unloaded at the port.

The dates related to the shipment of weapons to Russia also match. Satellite images showing the ship with missiles in the Russian port are from September 4, 2024, at 8:00 AM Eastern Time, around the same time the public was receiving more information about the transfer of Fath-360 missiles. Therefore, Defense Express notes that Western intelligence closely monitored the arms transfer.

Analysts also state that the Iranian ship had 220 missiles on board, which were unloaded and sent to an unknown location – although the publication suggests it might be the nearby range. It is worth noting that no launchers were spotted in the transport from Iran, but it is possible that they were previously manufactured independently in the Russian Federation. The launchers might have also been delivered by air.

The Fath-360 missiles are an advanced weapon system measuring approximately 5 metres long and just under 40 centimetres in diameter. They weigh about 800 kilograms.

The Fath-360 can hit targets up to 120 km away from its launch point. Thanks to its GNSS and GLONASS satellite guidance systems and inertial navigation, its strike precision is very high. Upon impact, the missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 4.

These technologies, including precise satellite guidance and high-speed capability, make it significantly tricky for defence systems to counter the missile. Additionally, the large warhead mass leads to substantial damage upon impact, increasing the missile's effectiveness in combat operations.