Iran plans to send a thousand weapons to Russia by the end of the year, including surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles and combat drones, CNN reports citing officials of a Western country, that closely monitors Iran's weapons program.
This could be the first time Iran sends advanced precision-guided missiles to Russia, which could give the Kremlin a substantial advantage on the battlefield.
According to officials, the latest shipment of weapons from Iran to Russia included about 450 drones, which the Russians have already used in Ukraine.
"This new expected shipment would mark a significant increase in Iranian support to Russia’s war effort. While the precise timing of when the shipment will arrive in Russia is unclear, officials believe the weapons will definitely be delivered before the end of the year," the message states.
The Iranian drones are known as a "loitering munition" because they can circle for some time in an area identified as a potential target and only strike once an enemy asset is identified.
They are small, portable and can be easily launched and fired from a distance, while being hard to detect.
