Sky News: Iran transported 220 missiles to the Russian Federation via the Caspian Sea

Iranian Fath-360 ballistic missiles were delivered to Russia by the civilian cargo ship Port Olya 3.

Sky News sources reported that 220 ballistic missiles were transported by the ship.

Satellite imagery analyzed by the Sky News Data & Forensics team captured the vessel that day in the port of Olya near Astrakhan, in southern Russia.

Vessel tracking data shows that the Port Olya 3 was in the Iranian port of Amirabad on August 29, just six days earlier.

The publication also added that the missiles are likely to be sent to a military training ground called Ashuluk for tests and to enable further training before they are used on the battlefield.

Russian troops have been trained in Iran on how to deploy the munitions.

Iranian weapons are supplied to Russia under strict secrecy. The ships involved in the transportation turn off their transponders, concealing their location.

Previously, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the Russians have already received ballistic missiles made in Iran. According to Ukrainian sources, it was Fath-360 missiles that were sent to Russia.

The Iranian Fath-360 missiles were unveiled on Iranian Army Day in April 2022.

They are said to have a range of 30 to 120 km, can carry a 150 kg warhead, and fly at Mach 3 (1020 m/s).

After launch, the missiles are connected to satellites to hit targets more accurately. The Iranians are believed to be using the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system, an alternative to GPS.

The modern guidance system ensures relatively high accuracy of target engagement. The missile’s high flight speed makes it difficult for air defense systems to intercept it. In addition, the Fath-360 is relatively inexpensive to produce compared to other types of ballistic missiles.