Chinese Supersonic Missiles, Russian Attack Helicopters: Iran Arms Up As US Mobilises Forces

Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 18:13 IST

As two US carrier strike groups mass off Iran's coast, Tehran is finalising deals for Chinese anti-ship and Russian supersonic missiles that could tilt the balance.

Tehran is on the verge of acquiring two distinct classes of supersonic missile technology, one from China and one from Russia, even as the United States stations its most powerful naval assets within striking distance of the Iranian coastline. The convergence of these developments has set the stage for one of the most dangerous standoffs the West Asia region has seen in years.

Reuters reported, citing six sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, that Iran is close to finalising a deal to purchase the Chinese-made CM-302 anti-ship cruise missile. Talks that began at least two years ago accelerated sharply following the twelve-day war between Israel and Iran in June last year. In the final stages of those negotiations, senior Iranian military and government officials travelled to China, including Massoud Oraei, Iran’s deputy defence minister.

All About CM-302 Anti-ship Cruise Missile System

CM-302 anti-ship cruise missile, China said, is “the world’s finest anti-ship missile". It flies low, fast, and at supersonic speeds, covering roughly 290 kilometres before its target even knows it is coming. It can be mounted on ships, aircraft, or mobile ground launchers, and is equally capable of striking targets on land. The manufacturer has claimed the system is capable of sinking an aircraft carrier or destroyer outright.

“It is a complete game-changer if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area," said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, speaking to Reuters. “These missiles are very difficult to intercept."

Alongside the Chinese deal, a separate and equally significant development is unfolding on Iran’s northern axis. Reports confirmed by The Hindustan Times indicate that a Russian Mil Mi-28 (NATO: Havoc) attack helicopter has been sighted inside Iran, reportedly being fitted with the Khrizantema-M supersonic anti-tank missile. The Khrizantema-M extends the helicopter’s strike range well beyond the effective range of most enemy air-defence systems, allowing it to engage armoured targets and fortified positions from a distance that keeps the aircraft out of the kill zone.

An Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters: “Iran has military and security agreements with its allies, and now is an appropriate time to make use of these agreements." The deal, if completed, would defy a United Nations weapons embargo reimposed on Iran last September, and would represent among the most significant arms transfers China has made to Iran in decades.

Russia and Iran have been deepening their military alignment in recent years. The Russian corvette Stoikiy recently joined joint naval exercises with Tehran in the Sea of Oman, drills that also include the Chinese navy as part of the annual trilateral exercises that the three countries have conducted for several years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned of serious consequences if the United States carries out any military strike against Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also been vocal about strengthening ties with Moscow.

THE AMERICAN ARMADA AND WHAT FACES IT

The United States has assembled a formidable military presence across the West Asia region. The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is already positioned with its full carrier strike group in the seas off Oman. The USS Gerald R Ford, the largest aircraft carrier ever built and the lead ship of its own class, has docked in Crete and is within operational striking range of Tehran. Together, the two carriers can field over 150 aircraft and carry more than 5,000 personnel. Additional American warships, aircraft, and troop movements have been reported across bases in Europe and the Middle East, pointing to what analysts have described as preparation for a possible sustained, weeks-long military campaign.

US President Donald Trump issued a ten-day ultimatum to Iran on 19 February, demanding that Tehran reach a nuclear agreement or face what he called “something very tough." A White House official confirmed the US was preparing for “something very tough like last time," referencing Trump’s first term maximum pressure campaign.

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