Russia’s Iranian missiles could turn the front line in Ukraine into a much more dangerous battlefield

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The delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia represents a significant turning point in the war in Ukraine. These weapons, much cheaper than Russian equivalents, give Moscow increased flexibility, which could further deepen the crisis for Ukrainian forces.

While Russia can continue to use its more expensive missiles for deep targets, Iran’s weapons allow constant pressure on the front lines at a much lower cost, writes Business Insider.

Iranian Missiles: An Economic Choice for Russia

From a cost-benefit perspective, Russia now has the option of striking less valuable Ukrainian targets, but vital to maintaining an effective defense, with less expensive weapons. So instead of wasting expensive and sophisticated missiles on front-line targets, Russia can use the new Iranian missiles to increase pressure on them, reserving its resources for larger attacks.

Timothy Wright, an expert in missile technology at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), explained that “Russia will use these missiles for tactical targets close to the front, where they can maximize the effects without depending on more expensive missiles.”

Details on new Iranian missiles

In August, two European defense sources told Reuters that Iran would deliver hundreds of Fath-360 and Ababil short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. The Pentagon confirmed in September the arrival of the first batch of Fath-360s, which have a range of about 120 kilometers, and the Ababil missiles have a range of 85 kilometers.

Although there is no clear confirmation of their immediate use, experts believe that Russia would intend to use them to hit targets on the edge of the front. So even if they don’t have launchers available yet, Iranian missiles could change the balance of power on the battlefield.

Iranian missiles: a supplement to the Russian arsenal

These new weapons allow Russia to retain its long-range missile resources, such as the Iskander, for attacks deep into Ukrainian territory. Thus, Russia is increasing its arsenal and ability to strike diverse targets across the entire battlefield. Also, Iranian missiles will give Moscow more options and a higher volume of strikes, even if they do not bring significantly superior technology to the missiles already in the Russian military’s arsenal.

Fabian Hinz, a missile expert at the IISS, pointed out that while these Iranian missiles will not introduce a new technological capability, they add significant bulk to the Russian arsenal, increasing flexibility and providing more options in the fight against Ukraine.

Russia and Iran: an ever closer alliance

In recent years, relations between Russia and Iran have strengthened, especially after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This collaboration is part of a broader strategy by Moscow, which seeks to diversify its sources of armaments and overcome difficulties encountered in the production intern. The arms purchases from Iran and North Korea reflect a troubling reality: Russia is failing to produce enough missiles and munitions for its own needs.

Hinz points out that the Fath-360 missiles are not extremely accurate, but the fact that Russia can count on a larger number of weapons helps it press Ukraine on several fronts. This strategy aligns with the Russian fighting style, which relies on large amounts of less sophisticated equipment and poorly trained troops to weaken enemy resistance.

Ukraine, between demands and limited resources

In the face of this heightened threat, Ukraine has consistently demanded more missiles and air defense systems from its allies. However, the number of weapons sent to Ukraine remains quite small, and this situation could become even more complicated following the possible re-election of former President Donald Trump. Although Trump has not presented a concrete plan, his criticism of aid to Ukraine calls into question the ability of Western nations to continue to support Ukraine in the long term.