Although the Fath-360 may initially suffer from limited accuracy, the delivery still poses a serious threat to Ukraine. russia is already believed to possess several hundred of these missiles.
In September of last year, reports confirmed that Iran had transferred several hundred Fath-360 ballistic missiles to russia. However, the shipment included only the missiles; no launchers were provided.
Read more: Fath-360 and Arman Systems: New Iranian Weapons on Their Way to russia?
Despite early claims that russian forces would be unable to use the missiles without proper launchers, multiple assessments indicated otherwise. russia could manufacture compatible launchers domestically, which would simplify future maintenance and logistics. This approach allowed Iran to maintain diplomatic flexibility with the West by avoiding the direct delivery of complete missile systems.
On Friday, May 9, Reuters reported that Iran is now preparing to send launchers for the Fath-360 to russia. Citing Western intelligence sources and a regional official, the report stated that the transfer of launchers is now considered “inevitable.”
No further details were provided about the timeline of the shipment or the reason for the delay of at least nine months between the delivery of missiles and the expected arrival of launch systems.
As of now, there is no confirmed evidence that the russian military has used its stockpile of Fath-360 missiles against Ukraine. This suggests that russia may still be facing challenges in integrating the missiles with a viable launch platform.
Alternatively, Iran may have been unable to supply russia with a sufficient number of launchers due to production or logistical constraints. The Fath-360 launcher is mounted on a 6x6 wheeled truck, likely manufactured by Iran’s Saipa Diesel, which is known for producing localized versions of China’s Dongfeng KC vehicles.
Analysts note that operating the Fath-360 system does not require extensive training or prolonged preparation. If Iran refrains from sending its own personnel, russian forces could still deploy these systems relatively quickly. This would provide moscow with another instrument for launching terror strikes against Ukrainian cities - especially in the context of possible 30-day ceasefire negotiations reportedly initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Commenting on the issue, Ralph Savelsberg, an associate professor at the Netherlands Defence Academy, questioned why russia would purchase low-quality missiles with limited accuracy and a relatively small 150 kg warhead. “The only reason that comes to mind,” he said, “is that they cannot produce enough of their own missiles.”
At the same time, it is important to note that russia has significantly increased its use of both cruise and ballistic missiles since 2021–2022. The addition of Fath-360 systems could enhance russia’s ability to conduct widespread strikes, while preserving more capable Iskander systems for higher-priority targets.
Finally, operational experience with the Fath-360 may allow russian forces to improve the missile’s performance over time. North Korea’s KN-23 ballistic missile serves as a precedent - originally plagued by poor accuracy, the system was later refined to achieve greater precision.
Read more: Fath-360 and Ababil from iran for russia: What Are These Missiles and What Are the Main Differences from the Fateh-110?
