Ukraine's Neptun Missile Upgrade: A Game-Changer in Black Sea Defense
The Ukrainian armed forces have announced an upgrade of the missile used to sink the cruiser Moskva in 2022. The R-360 Neptun, as it is known, will now have a range of up to around 1000 kilometres in its new version, up from the previous 400 kilometres. Here, we dive into its capabilities.
The Ukraine Battle Map profile on the X platform reports that Ukraine is working to extend the range of its R-360 Neptun missiles, with a tenfold increase in their production. Consequently, the defenders' army can strike any target in the Black Sea region. With the extended range of 1000 kilometres, all Russian ports in the area will be within the Ukrainian army's reach, thanks to the improved Neptun.
Although the R-360 was initially developed as an anti-ship missile, the Ukrainians have modified it for potential use against land targets. As a result, with the upgraded missile, the Ukrainian forces could target 59 out of the 99 Russian air bases.
The missile with which Ukraine sank the Moskva
The R-360 Neptun is part of the coastal missile system RK-360MC, developed to protect Ukraine against threats from the Black Sea Fleet. The Neptun is a comparatively new manoeuvring anti-ship missile, with its tests occurring in 2018, and the first systems were delivered to the Ukrainian forces in 2020.
The missile, over 5 metres in length and about 0.5 metres in diameter, weighs around 870 kilograms and carries a warhead weighing 150 kilograms. This head, in turn, is equipped with an active radar, allowing the missile to identify a target from up to 50 kilometres away. Moreover, the R-360 Neptun is designed to resist radio jamming and utilize satellite and inertial navigation systems.
A built-in radar altimeter allows the missile to maintain a 3 to 10 metres height, rendering it undetectable by enemy radars at this altitude. Currently, the R-360 Neptun can cover a distance of about 300-400 kilometres, with a maximum speed of 900 kilometres/h.
