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R-360 Neptune

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R-360 Neptune (Ukrainian: Р-360 «Нептун», romanized: R-360 "Neptun") is a Ukrainian subsonic cruise missile with all-weather capabilities developed by the Luch Design Bureau in Kyiv as an anti-ship missile, with a later variant for land attack. Neptune's design is based on the Soviet Kh-35 subsonic anti-ship missile, with substantially improved range, targeting and electronics equipment.[4][better source needed] It has a range of over 200 kilometres.

R-360 Neptune
R-360 Neptune at Arms and Security exhibition 2021
TypeAnti-ship missile
Cruise missile
Place of originUkraine
Service history
In service2021–present
Used byUkrainian Navy
WarsRusso-Ukrainian War
Production history
DesignerLuch Design Bureau[1]
Specifications
Mass870 kg (1,920 lb)[1]
Length5.05 m (16.6 ft)
Diameter38 cm (15 in)
Warhead weight150 kg (330 lb)
EngineMotor Sich MS400 turbofan
Operational
range
Over 200 km (120 mi) up to 300 km (190 mi) [1][2][3]
Maximum speed Subsonic[1]

The system requirement was for a single missile to defeat surface warships and transport vessels with a displacement of up to 9,000 tonnes, either in convoys or moving individually. The first training missile divizion (battalion) entered service with the Ukrainian Navy in March 2021,[5] with the first operational naval use in 2022. The land-attack variant has a new guidance system and was first fielded and used in 2023.

Development

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The missile was first revealed at the 2015 Arms and Security international exhibition in Kyiv.[6]

According to information from open sources, the first flight examples of the cruise missile were manufactured in the second quarter of 2016. Production of advanced missile systems took place in cooperation with other Ukrainian companies, including Artem Luch, Motor Sich (MS400 turbofan engine), ZhMZ Vizar Kyiv, Radionix [uk] (seeker) and Arsenal SDP SE (navigation system).[citation needed]

The first tests of the system were conducted on 22 March 2016, attended by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov. In mid-2017, Neptune missiles were tested concurrently with Vilkha launchers and missiles. The test results and capabilities of the Neptune were not made public, unlike those of the Vilkha.[7] According to the press service of the NSDC, the first successful flight tests of the system took place on 30 January 2018.[8] On 17 August 2018, the missile successfully hit a target at a range of 100 kilometres (62 mi) during test firings in southern Odesa Oblast.[9] On 6 April 2019, the missile was again successfully tested, hitting targets during tests near Odesa. According to President Petro Poroshenko, the Neptune system would be delivered to the Ukrainian military in December 2019.[10]

After the withdrawal of the United States and Russia from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Ukraine announced that it was considering developing intermediate-range cruise missiles. Ukraine signed a memorandum with Indonesia on concluding a contract for the supply of Neptune missiles, first reported in December 2020.[11] Thus, Indonesia may become the first foreign buyer of Neptune, according to Defense Express [uk] with reference to the Ukrainian special exporter State Enterprise (SE) "Progress".

In March 2021, the Ukrainian Navy obtained the first training missile battalion of the RK-360MC Neptune.[5]

Operational history

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See also: Sinking of the Moskva

On 3 April 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian sources claimed that the Russian frigate Admiral Essen had been damaged by Ukrainian forces.[12] Later, Oleksiy Arestovych, a freelance adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, clarified that Admiral Essen had been hit by a Neptune missile. The Russians did not comment on the claim and the ship continued its mission as normal.[13][14]

On 13 April 2022, Ukrainian sources claimed the Russian cruiser Moskva was hit by two Neptune missiles, resulting in a fire and subsequent explosion of a shipboard ammunition store.[15] The Russian Ministry of Defence stated, without discussing the cause, that a fire had caused munitions to explode and the crew had been fully evacuated.[16][17][18] Russia reported the vessel as still being afloat later in the day of the fire, but Russian state media subsequently reported that she had sunk in inclement weather while being towed.[19][20]

According to Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander, Slava-class cruisers like Moskva have been typically "known for their offensive punch, not for their defensive systems or their damage control".[21] Moskva was one of the largest warships sunk in combat since World War II.[22] The successful use of the Neptune system to sink the warship was cited by Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov as giving confidence to Ukraine's allies that more weapon supplies to Ukraine would be worth it.[23]

A land attack variant was being designed and, as of April 2023, was close to completion. The Neptune missile was initially designed to hit ships at sea. According to a Ukrainian official: "Ukraine is working to modify Neptune missile to strike land targets ... A new guiding/homing system is required, but Ukrainians are working on that ... Once we get that, the Neptunes can hit targets 360 km (about 225 miles) away. We are pretty close."[24]

On 23 August 2023, according to Ukrainian media reports, a modified R-360 missile was used to destroy a S-400 missile system radar, deployed on Cape Tarkhankut in Crimea since 2016.[25][26]

On 14 September, Ukrainian forces subsequently claimed to have destroyed S-400 missile systems near Yevpatoriya using drones and Neptune missiles.[27] One day earlier, two Russian vessels in Sevastopol were heavily damaged by either Neptune or Storm Shadow cruise missiles.[28]

On 26 March 2024, Ukraine claimed to have struck the Konstantin Olshansky with a Neptune missile. This vessel was seized from Ukraine in 2014, when Russian forces took control of the Crimean peninsula.[29]

On 9 April 2024, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted a Neptune missile near the Crimean coast.[30]

On 21 April 2024, a video was released from Sukharnaya Bay, Sevastopol that allegedly shows the salvage ship Kommuna hit by a Ukrainian Neptune missile.[31] Kommuna took part in salvage efforts after Moskva was hit in 2022.

In April 2024, Ukraine was working on extending the range of the missile to 1,000 km (620 mi) while increasing production tenfold.[32]

On 31 May 2024, Ukraine fired several Neptune missiles at an oil depot attached to Port Kavkaz, Krasnodar Krai. Russian officials claimed to have shot down the missiles. Ukrainian officials and Russian opposition reported a fire and damage to three petroleum tanks.[33]

The new land attack variant is called Neptune-MD by Russian forces. Ukrainians call it the Long Neptune. On 21 June 2024, a Neptune struck Shahed drone depot and training facility in Krasnodar.[34]

On 31 July 2024 a Neptune struck an airbase in Kursk, Russia. One hundred kilometres from the border with Ukraine. Hitting "a warehouse for storing weapons and military equipment" according to Ukrainian officials. Russia claimed to have shot down the missile.[35]

On 2 August 2024, Romania and Ukraine announced a plan to manufacture and improve the Neptune missile. [36]

On the morning of 21 August 2024, the Ukrainian military claimed to have struck a Russian S-300 air defense system in Rostov Oblast overnight, possibly by using a Neptune missile.[37][38]

Design

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The Neptune uses a solid-fuel booster rocket to launch it into the air. After the fuel is expended the rocket stage falls away and the jet engine takes over, providing the necessary thrust.[39] A Neptune missile, including rocket motor, is 5.05 metres (16 ft 7 in) in length, with a cross-shaped hard wing. They are designed to be housed in transport and launch containers with dimensions 5.3 by 0.6 by 0.6 metres (209 in × 24 in × 24 in). The system has a maximum range of about 300 kilometres (190 mi).[40][3] A single missile weighs 870 kilograms (1,920 lb), of which 150 kilograms (330 lb) is the warhead.[5] It uses a Motor Sich MS400 engine which has a high thrust-to-weight ratio.[41]

When deployed, a Neptune coastal defence system comprises a truck-based USPU-360 mobile launcher, four missiles, a TZM-360 transport/reload vehicle, a RCP-360 command and control vehicle, and a special cargo vehicle. Czech Tatra T815-7 trucks replaced prototype KrAZ vehicles. The system is designed to operate inland up to 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the coastline.[5]

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  •  
    Launch vehicle
  •  
    Launch vehicle
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    Reload transporter with crane
  •  
    Transport without crane
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    Command vehicle
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    Mineral-U radar
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    with radar erected
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    Prototype KrAZ-7634-based launch vehicle
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    Prototype KrAZ-6322-based loader vehicle
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    Prototype command vehicle
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    Prototype command vehicle interior
  •  
    Prototype launcher with supporting vehicles
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    Test launch, 2019

See also

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Other subsonic anti-ship missiles

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Neptun Anti-Ship Cruise Missile". Military-Today.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. ^ Нептун успішно вразив морську ціль [Neptune successfully hit a naval target]. Ukrainian Military Portal, mil.in.ua (in Ukrainian). 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b "LUCH, State Kyiv Design Bureau" (PDF). State Kyiv Design Bureau, LUCH. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. ^ Episkopos, Mark (6 February 2019). "Ukraine Is Building Anti-Ship Missiles (In Part Thanks to Russia)". The National Interest. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Ponomarenko, Illia (15 March 2021). "Ukraine's navy acquires first Neptune cruise missiles". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021. The first training missile division joined the navy's only artillery brigade on March 15, as part of the formation's newly-created coastal defense missile battalion.
  6. ^ У Києві презентували нову крилату ракету "Нептун" [New cruise missile "Neptune" was presented in Kyiv] (in Ukrainian). Espreso TV. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. ^ Hristoforov, Vladislav (25 January 2018). Протикорабельна ракета "Нептун" пройшла частину випробувань у 2017 році [The anti-ship missile "Neptune" has undergone part of the tests in 2017]. National Industrial Portal, uprom.info (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  8. ^ Перші випробування української крилатої ракети! [The first tests of the Ukrainian cruise missile!]. Ukrainian Military Portal, mil.in.ua (in Ukrainian). 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Ukrainian cruise missile "Neptune" struck a maritime target at a distance of 100 km during the test". Ukrainian Military Pages. 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  10. ^ Ракеты "Нептун" поступят на вооружение ВМС в декабре ["Neptune" missiles will enter service with the naval forces in December]. Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (in Russian). 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Indonesia to sign contract with Ukraine to purchase RK-360MC Neptune mobile missile coastal defense system". Navy Recognition. 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Украинские защитники повредили российский ракетный фрегат". Dumskaya (in Russian). 3 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  13. ^ Harding, Luke; Sauer, Pjotr; Borger, Julian; Elgot, Jessica (15 April 2022). "Russia's Moskva cruiser sinks following Ukrainian claim of missile strike". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  14. ^ Hambling, David (14 April 2022). "Ukraine's Bayraktar Drone Helped Sink Russian Flagship Moskva". Forbes. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian military hits Russian cruiser by Neptune missiles". Ukrinform. 13 April 2022. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Fire breaks out onboard Moskva missile cruiser, crew evacuated — defense ministry". TASS. 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  17. ^ На ракетном крейсере "Москва" в результате пожара сдетонировал боезапас [Ammunition detonated on the "Moskva" missile cruiser as a result of a fire] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  18. ^ Ljunggren, David (13 April 2022). "Russia Says Ammunition Blast Damages Flagship of Black Sea Fleet - Interfax". U.S. News & World Report. Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Russian warship Moskva: What do we know?". BBC News. 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Moskva cruiser sank while being towed in a storm — Russian Defense Ministry". TASS. 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  21. ^ Lendon, Brad (15 April 2022). "Moskva sinking: What really happened to the pride of Russia's fleet?". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  22. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (15 April 2022). "Ukraine Sunk the Largest Warship Since WWII in a Major Blow to Russia". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  23. ^ Koshiw, Isobel; Beaumont, Peter (15 December 2022). "Putin preparing major offensive in new year, Ukraine defence minister warns". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  24. ^ ALTMAN, Howard (14 April 2023). "Ukraine Situation Report: Official Hints At New Weapons To Be Unleashed On Crimea". the Drive. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  25. ^ Axe, David (25 August 2023). "To Blow Up Russia's S-400 Battery In Crimea, Ukraine Tweaked Its Cruiser-Sinking Neptune Missile". Forbes. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Neptune anti-ship missile struck Russian S-400 radar in Crimea — report". News Yahoo!. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  27. ^ Ece Goksedef; Vitalii Chervonenko (14 September 2023). "Russian air defence system destroyed in Crimea, Ukraine says". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  28. ^ Reed, Betsy, ed. (13 September 2023). "Ukrainian missiles strike Russia's Black Sea fleet in Crimea". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  29. ^ Max Hunder (26 March 2024). "Ukraine says it hit warship that Russia took from it in 2014 with a missile". Reuters. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Russia says it destroys Ukraine anti-ship missile, downs four drones". Reuters. 9 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Vessel on fire in occupied Crimea's Sevastopol". www.ukrinform.net. 21 April 2024. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Ukraine plans to expand Operational Range of Neptune Anti-Ship Missile System to 1000 km". navyrecognition.com. 21 April 2024. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  33. ^ Riley Bailey; Christina Harward; Angelica Evans; Grace Mappes; Frederick W. Kagan (1 June 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 31, 2024". ISW. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  34. ^ Stefan Korshak (22 June 2024). "Ukraine Says Missile Strike Destroyed Kamikaze Drones and Iranian Instructors". The Kyiv Post. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  35. ^ Elsa Court (31 July 2024). "Ukrainian Navy claims attack on Russian weapons depot near Kursk". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  36. ^ Elsa Court (2 August 2024). "Romania Plans to Jointly Develop R-360 Neptune Missiles with Ukraine". Army Recognition. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  37. ^ Martin Fornusek (21 August 2024). "Ukraine targeted Russian S-300 air defense system in Rostov Oblast, military claims". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  38. ^ Dylan Malyasov. "Ukraine targets Russian S-300 missile system in Rostov Region". Defence Blog. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Neptune cruise missiles can protect Ukraine's shores". 2 August 2019.
  40. ^ Нептун успішно вразив морську ціль [Neptune successfully hit a naval target]. Ukrainian Military Portal, mil.in.ua (in Ukrainian). 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  41. ^ Pavlenko, Dmytro; Dvirnyk, Yaroslav; Przysowa, Radoslaw (22 December 2022). "Advanced Materials and Technologies for Compressor Blades of Small Turbofan Engines". Aerospace. 8 (1): 1. doi:10.3390/aerospace8010001. ISSN 2226-4310.
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