Russia has reportedly agreed to supply Iran with 90 helicopter-mounted launchers designed for precision-guided missiles that have seen extensive use during the war in Ukraine, according to previously undisclosed Russian defence industry records reviewed by the Financial Times.

The reported arrangement would mark another significant step in the deepening military partnership between Moscow and Tehran, despite the heavy demands already being placed on Russia's defence industrial base by the conflict in Ukraine.

The documents indicate that Iran was slated to receive 90 APU-L launchers, systems specifically designed to carry the Russian LMUR precision-guided missile, also known as Izdeliye 305. The weapon entered Russian military service in 2022 after its public debut at the Army Expo in 2021 and has since become a regular feature of Russian combat operations in Ukraine.

According to the US Army's Worldwide Equipment Guide, each APU-L launcher can carry two LMUR missiles and is intended for installation on Mi-28 attack helicopters. A related system, the APU-305 launcher, can carry a single missile.

The proposed transfer is particularly noteworthy because Iran has already secured Russian-made Mi-28 attack helicopters. Iranian Deputy Defence Minister Mehdi Farahi stated in November 2023 that arrangements for the induction of the helicopters into Iran's armed forces had been finalised.

If integrated, the launchers could provide Iran's Mi-28 fleet with the ability to employ the LMUR missile, a weapon capable of being guided by an operator during flight. This feature allows course corrections after launch and enables engagements against moving targets, enhancing operational flexibility on the battlefield.

The Financial Times traced the reported deal to production schedules prepared by Russian missile manufacturer Vympel for 2024 and 2025. Those records listed an export order for 90 APU-L launchers assigned to a foreign customer identified only as "K-10".

The designation was reportedly linked to Iran through internal Rosoboronexport documentation and information provided by a source familiar with the matter. The production records were obtained by Dallas Analytics, a Ukrainian private intelligence organisation.

Additional correspondence from May 2024 revealed that Vympel requested accelerated deliveries of key components from the KBM design bureau for two launcher variants. The company warned that delays could place as many as nine contracts at risk.

The production schedule also detailed a separate foreign order from China for 192 APU-305 launchers, alongside requirements from seven Russian customers. However, while the documents clearly record a planned export order for Iran, they do not confirm whether the 90 launchers were ultimately manufactured and delivered.

The launcher deal is not the only indication of expanding Russian military exports to Iran. Separate production records from a ROSTEC subsidiary identified six Yak-130 jet trainer and light-attack aircraft intended for the same "K-10" customer.

Iranian media reported the arrival of two Yak-130 aircraft in 2023, while the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute subsequently recorded all six aircraft as delivered by the end of 2024.

The reported agreements add to a growing list of disclosures concerning defence cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Previous investigations have highlighted Russian assistance linked to Iran's supersonic cruise missile efforts, the reported transfer of Verba man-portable air-defence systems, and exchanges involving information potentially relevant to advanced weapons development.

Western intelligence officials cited by the Financial Times believe military cooperation between the two countries expanded further during the recent Middle East conflict. That assessment stands in contrast to US President Donald Trump's assertion that Russia was doing "very little, if anything" to assist Iran.

While the newly disclosed records provide evidence of a planned export programme involving advanced helicopter missile launchers, the ultimate delivery status of the 90 APU-L systems remains unconfirmed.

The documents nevertheless offer a rare glimpse into the scale of ongoing military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran and the extent to which Moscow continues to support Tehran while sustaining its own military operations in Ukraine.

Agencies