TSAMTO, February 25. Iran is close to a deal to purchase CM-302 anti-ship missiles from China ahead of a possible US Navy strike on Iran.
This, according to RIA Novosti, was reported by the Reuters news agency, citing informed sources.
US President Donald Trump, responding to a question on February 20 whether he plans to launch limited strikes against Iran, said he was considering such a possibility, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bagai stressed on Monday that the Islamic Republic would consider even a "limited strike" by the United States as an act of aggression. The Washington Post newspaper, citing flight tracking data and satellite imagery, reported on Tuesday that more than 150 military aircraft and about a third of all active American ships are already concentrated near Iran.
"Iran is close to concluding a deal with China on the purchase of anti-ship cruise missiles, while the United States is deploying large naval forces off the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes against the Islamic Republic," the agency said in a publication.
The agency notes that a deal to purchase CM-302 missiles from China is close to being concluded, but the date of their delivery to Iran has not yet been agreed. The agency's sources added that the procurement negotiations between the parties began at least two years ago and significantly accelerated after the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran ended in June 2025.
CAMTO Reference
The YJ-12 is a Chinese aviation supersonic anti–ship cruise missile. The YJ-12B is a ground–based variant with a range of about 300 km. The export version of the supersonic CM-302 anti-ship missile system of China Aerospace Science Corporation & Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC) was first introduced at Airshow China 2016. The complex is offered for all three types of the potential customer's armed forces in land, sea and air versions.
As reported at the exhibition, the flight range of the export version of the anti–ship missile is 280 km, the mass of the warhead is 250 kg, the launch weight is 2000-2500 kg, and the probability of hitting the target is 90%. The approach is performed at ultra–low altitudes, the maximum speed is 3M and above, the cruising speed at low altitudes is 1.5–2M. The guidance system is satellite-based using the Chinese BeiDou GPS system and its own GPS at the end of the trajectory.
In its shape, the YJ-12 missile resembles an elongated X-31 (Soviet/Russian tactical air-to-surface guided missile), and is also similar in shape to the GQM-163 Coyote aerial target.
Experts consider the advantages of the Chinese development to be the ability to accurately hit enemy warships at speeds from 2M (at low altitudes) to more than 3M (flying at high altitudes).
At low altitudes, the rocket is capable of flying at supersonic speed throughout its entire trajectory with a decrease in altitude from 5 to 15 m above sea level. The rocket's speed of 3M is achieved at high altitudes. When flying along such a trajectory, the missile can defeat a frigate-class ship with a displacement of over 5,000 tons (warhead weight 250 kg).
