Russia provided more support to Iran before the war than had previously been publicly acknowledged, according to internal defense-industry documents describing efforts to expand Tehran’s weapons arsenal ahead of its conflict with the United States.
The records include a Russian contract for 90 launchers designed to fire precision-guided missiles, with Tehran listed as the destination. The documents were obtained and published by Dallas Analytics, a Ukrainian defense research group.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly played down Moscow’s role, saying as recently as last month that he did not believe Russia was helping Iran “at all.”
Russian production records show parts allocated for 90 APU-L twin-rail launchers under a contract labeled “K-10.” Shipments through the Russian production chain were scheduled to run from late 2024 to December 2025.
Other Russian documents identify K-10 as Iran. A request from October 2022 for equipment for Yak-130 aircraft names the recipient as “K10” Iran. The request was countersigned by the acting head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s 704th Military Representation.
The designation also appears in records for Russian equipment that later reached Iran. A factory schedule listed six Yak-130s for a K-10 recipient. Iranian state media showed the aircraft entering service in September 2023, and Dallas Analytics said one Iranian aircraft’s tail number matched a number in the Russian factory records.
The APU-L launchers are designed for Russia’s LMUR missile, also called Product 305 or the Kh-39. The missile weighs about 230 pounds and carries a 55-pound warhead. During flight, an operator can guide it using an electro-optical seeker and a two-way radio link.
Iran had previously announced plans to acquire Russian Mi-28 attack helicopters, which can carry the missile. The first export-model Mi-28NE helicopters were photographed in Iran in January 2026.
The paperwork also indicates involvement from Russia’s Defense Ministry. A letter from May 2024 accompanying the K-10 production schedule was co-signed by the head of the ministry’s 123rd Military Representation.
The documents do not confirm that the launchers were ultimately delivered to Iran. Dallas Analytics described the contract as “a very strong proof” that a transfer was planned.
The findings offer further detail about a military partnership the Trump administration has repeatedly minimized during the war. U.S. intelligence assessments have said Russia provided Iran with information about the locations of American military assets, as well as satellite imagery and weapons components, according to media reports.
Administration officials, however, have said Russian assistance has not significantly affected the U.S. campaign. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was not disrupting American military operations. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States was monitoring Moscow’s support and factoring it into its battle plans.
The administration has also taken steps to disrupt Iran’s overseas weapons procurement as Tehran works to rebuild its military capabilities. The Treasury Department has targeted networks it says helped Iran seek weapons and components abroad, including Chinese-made man-portable air-defense systems.
This week, the State Department sanctioned a Russia-based individual it said was involved in helping Iran procure Chinese-made man-portable air-defense systems, known as MANPADS.
