Ukraine to build indigenous anti-ship cruise missiles

Through its Neptune project, Ukraine announced in 2013 its desire to provide its forces deterrence against Russian sea power in the Azov region. Neptune uses a 150-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead and can be deployed on air, sea, and land platforms.


Through its Neptune project, Ukraine announced in 2013 its desire to provide its forces deterrence against Russian sea power in the Azov region. Neptune uses a 150-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead and can be deployed on air, sea, and land platforms.


Ukraine to build indigenous anti ship cruise missiles 001 Design concept of the Neptune cruise missile (Picture source : Defense express)


Initial deployments of those cruise anti-ship missiles are scheduled for Ukraine’s Azov Sea coastal missile defenses. The missile can reach a maximum effective range of 300 kilometers and is designed to destroy vessels with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons. Being a cruciform-winged missile having a full length of 5,050 mm, the Neptune will be launched from a transport/launch canister (TLC) measuring 5,300 x 600 x 600 mm. This missile could be fully operational aboard Ukrainian vessels within 3 years.

Neptune is a lightly modernized variant of the Russian-made Kh-35 anti-ship cruise missile. Introduced in 2003, the Kh-35 is distinguished by its shorter body and range while retaining the core design principles of its Neptune counterpart. Neptune also adds a new inertial guidance system with active radar seeking. It is logical for the Neptune to have similar design as the Kh-35 because of the keyrole Ukraine played in the development of the Kh-35 (R95-300 engine).

Last year, Kiev announced that they had conducted Neptune’s first successful flight: “During the successful tests, the missile’s flight efficiency and systems operations were checked,” according to National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov. “Today’s tests have opened a new stage of the missile program, according to which our Armed Forces must receive powerful high-performance cruise missiles that can accurately strike hostile targets at great distances,” Turchynov added.


Ukraine to build indigenous anti ship cruise missiles 002 Russian Kh-35UE cruise missile at  (Picture source : Navy Recognition)