Ukraine Tests Advanced Subsonic Cruise Missile ‘Neptune’

Ukraine successfully conducted the first test of the country’s latest missile technology, identified as the Neptune, a Ukrainian advanced subsonic cruise missile, on January 30, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov announced.

According to Turchynov, the missile, a solely Ukrainian project designed by the Kyiv-based Luch defense development bureau, can deliver precise strikes on ground and seaborne targets.

“During the successful tests, the missile’s flight efficiency and systems operations were checked,” Turchynov was quoted as saying by Defence Blog.

Neptune missile is similar to the Russian anti-ship Kh-35 missile, and it could cope with surface warships and cargo ships of up to 5,000 DWT, travelling in convoys or independently. The missile complex will be produced in configurations for sea, land and air attacks. The cruise missile is designed to be launched from a container similar to the one used for C-300 surface-to-air missile complex.

According to the UkrOboronProm defense industry concern, the Neptunes are capable of sinking warships with displacements of up to 5,000 tons – which would include all of the Russian landing ships and frigates currently in service.