Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 missile system

Dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system.

Reuters learned this from two sources.

European intelligence sources told Reuters that Russian defense ministry representatives have signed a contract on Dec. 13 in Tehran with Iranian officials for the Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system built by Iran’s government-owned Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) called the Ababil.

According to intelligence, the Russian personnel visited Iran to learn how to operate the Fath-360.

One of the sources said that “the only next possible” step after training would be actual delivery of the missiles to Russia. Neither the source nor the second source could specify when this would happen.

A third intelligence source from another European agency said it had also received information that Russia had sent soldiers to Iran to train in the use of Iranian ballistic missile systems, without providing further details.

A senior Iranian official, who requested anonymity, said Tehran had sold missiles and drones to Russia but had not provided Fath-360 missiles.

He also emphasized that there was no legal ban on Iran’s sale of such weapons for Moscow.

The United States refused to confirm the information about the possible delivery of ballistic missiles, but John Kirby, Coordinator of the National Security Council at the White House emphasized that NATO and G7 allies were ready for a “swift and severe response if Iran makes such a transfer.”

Iran’s short-range surface-to-surface missiles, the Fat-360, have a diameter of 300 mm and weigh 850-1100 kilograms.

Its warhead weighs 150 kilograms and has a claimed range of 75-120 kilometers.

The Fath-360 launchers can be based on a wheeled truck that can be disguised as a civilian vehicle. It is also assumed that the new Iranian missile system will be able to use the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system.