Reverse Engineering: Iran’s Technological "Bazaar" for China and Russia

Iran has officially transformed its territory into an open-air laboratory for dismantling U.S. military supremacy. The transfer of intercepted U.S. missile fragments to specialized reverse-engineering firms is not merely a defensive act, but the launch of a strategic commercial operation. Ibrahim Zolfagari, of the Iranian Armed Forces Central Command, confirmed this: the objective is to decode the secrets of American guidance and propulsion systems.

The Reverse Engineering Triangle

For Tehran, reverse engineering is not simple copying; it is a form of currency. Amid global sanctions, Iran is reportedly preparing to sell decrypted technical data and components to its primary partners: China and Russia.

For Moscow, U.S. missile secrets extracted by Iran would be vital for upgrading electronic countermeasures on the Ukrainian front.

For Beijing, the analysis of American materials and processing standards would accelerate the development of its own weapons systems, integrating Iranian findings into its broader expansion strategy.

Beyond the Blockade: Strategic Autonomy

By analyzing the vulnerabilities of U.S. technologies, Iran not only enhances its own strike drones—improving their guidance precision and anti-jamming capabilities—but also positions itself as an alternative technological hub. Iran’s ability to "localize" Western technology and resell its operational principles is creating a short circuit in the Pentagon's technological blockades. In this era of information warfare, a missile wreck is no longer debris; it is a treasure trove of intelligence that Beijing and Moscow are ready to pay for at a high price.

However, Beijing is reportedly undergoing the same treatment. During the recent conflict between Pakistan and India (Operation Sindoor, May 2025), a Chinese PL-15E air-to-air missile, launched from a Pakistani J-10C, fell intact on Indian soil (Hoshiarpur district). India reportedly did not limit itself to internal analysis; according to intelligence sources, the missile was dismantled, and key components—such as the AESA radar and the dual-pulse motor—were transferred to Japan for a joint study.

What is Extrema Ratio: It provides strategic consultancy to governments, intelligence agencies, and corporations on the development of Chinese global power, with a specialized focus on Liminal Warfare and Beijing's geopolitical expansion dynamics.