India, Sept. 2 -- Russia has reportedly been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles under a covert programme codenamed 'C430L'.

The multiyear programme, which began in 2023, involves Moscow helping Tehran develop a ramjet propulsion system, which is an engine that allows a cruise missile to sustain flight at several times the speed of sound, the Financial Times reported.

Missile and military experts said the technology was almost certainly intended for anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. However, the report said that while Iran has successfully tested the ramjet propulsion system, there is no evidence that a Russian-assisted supersonic cruise missile has been used in the ongoing war so far.

Supersonic ...