Dozens of Russian soldiers are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile system, two European intelligence sources told Reuters, adding that hundreds of satellite-guided weapons are expected to be delivered to Russia.

Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense reportedly signed a contract on December 13 in Tehran with Iranian officials about the Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system built by Iran’s state-run Aerospace Industry Organization (AIO) called Ababil, according to intelligence officials.

Citing multiple confidential sources, the officials said Russian personnel visited Iran to learn how to operate the Fath-360 defense system, which fires missiles with a maximum range of 120 km and a 150 kg warhead. One of the sources said “the next step” after the training would be to deliver the missiles to Russia.

Moscow has a range of its own ballistic missiles, but the Fath-360 procurement could allow Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets beyond the front line, while using Iranian warheads for closer-range targets, a source said. military expert.

A spokesman for the US National Security Council said the United States and its NATO allies and G7 partners “stand ready to provide a swift and severe response if Iran proceeds with such transfers.”