Leaked defense documents indicate Russia has arranged to supply Iran with 90 APU-L launchers for LMUR guided missiles, according to reports citing Ukrainian intelligence.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Russia has arranged to supply Iran with 90 launchers for advanced guided missiles, according to leaked defense industry documents obtained by Dallas Analytics, a Ukrainian private intelligence firm.
The documents, which were shared with the Guardian and reported by the Financial Times, include a production schedule drawn up in May 2024 by Vympel, a Russian designer of missiles and launch systems. The schedule lists an order for 90 APU-L launchers under an export contract designated "K-10," which is a code used by Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, to refer to Iran.
Deliveries for the launchers were scheduled between late 2024 and December 2025. The documents do not establish whether the launchers were ultimately delivered. The APU-L launchers are designed for Russia's Mi-28 attack helicopters and can carry two missiles each.
The launchers are intended for the LMUR (also known as Izdeliye 305), a precision-guided missile that Russian forces have used extensively against Ukrainian targets since the 2022 invasion. According to Dallas Analytics, the missile travels approximately 230 meters per second and can cover 14 kilometers in about one minute.
Technical specifications for the base version of the missile include:
This agreement follows other reported military ties between Moscow and Tehran. In November 2023, Iranian officials announced arrangements for the delivery of Russian Mi-28 helicopters. Additionally, Vympel is believed to have sent six Yak-130 jet trainers to Iran in 2023.
While Moscow has denied reports of supplying military equipment to Iran for use in the current conflict, the two nations signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2025. This agreement includes provisions for countering shared threats but does not contain the mutual defense commitments found in Russia's security pact with North Korea.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed the extent of Moscow's support for Iran, stating last month that Russia was doing "very little, if anything" to help Tehran. However, European intelligence agencies have warned that Moscow has provided Iran with satellite images and data that could assist in targeting US forces in the Middle East.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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