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R-360 Neptune

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R-360 Neptune
Neptune R-360 missile, Kyiv 2021, 05
R-360 Neptune at Arms and Security 2015
Type Anti-ship missile
Cruise missile
Place of origin Ukraine
Service history
In service 2021–present
Used by Ukrainian Navy
Wars Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer Luch Design Bureau[1]
Specifications
Mass 870 kg (1,920 lb)[1]
Warhead weight 150 kg (330 lb)
Operational
range
 300 km (190 mi)[1]
Maximum speed Subsonic[1]

R-360 Neptune (Ukrainian: Р-360 «Нептун», romanized: R-360 "Neptun") is a Ukrainian anti-ship cruise missile developed by the Luch Design Bureau.

Neptune's design is based on the Soviet Kh-35 anti-ship missile, with substantially improved range and electronics.[2] The system is designed to defeat surface warships and transport vessels with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons, either in convoys or moving individually.

The system entered service with the Ukrainian Navy in March 2021.[3]

Development[]

The missile was first revealed at the 2015 Arms and Security [uk] international exhibition in Kyiv.[4]

According to information from open sources, the first flight samples of the cruise missile were manufactured in the second quarter of 2016. Production of advanced missile systems took place in cooperation with other Ukrainian enterprises, including Artem Luch GAhK, Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company [uk], Motor Sich (MS-400 turbofan engine), Pivdenne YuMZ Pivdenmash, Lviv LORTA [uk] and other radar electronics, Vyshneve ZhMZ Vizar Kyiv, Radionix [uk] (seeker), Arsenal SDP SE (navigation system) and others.[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 trials of the Vilkha missile complex. However, unlike the Vilkha, the test results and capabilities of the Neptune were not made public.[5] According to the press service of the NSDC, the first successful flight tests of the system took place on 30 January 2018.[6] 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.[7] On 6 April 2019, the missile was again successfully tested, hitting targets during tests near Odesa. According to President Petro Poroshenko, Neptune system would be delivered to the Ukrainian military in December 2019.[8]

After the withdrawal of both the United States and the Russian Federation from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Ukraine announced that it was considering developing intermediate-range cruise missiles. Analysts considered an extended-range Neptune missile to be a candidate for such an effort.[9]

Ukraine signed a memorandum with Indonesia on concluding a contract for the supply of a number of Neptune missiles, first reported in December 2020.[10] 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 units of the RK-360MC Neptune.[3]

Operational history[]

See also: Russian cruiser Moskva#Sinking

On 13 April 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 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.[11] 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.[12][13][14] Russia reported the vessel as still being afloat later in the day of the fire, but Russian state media subsequently reported that it had sunk in inclement weather while being towed.[15][16]

According to Ukrainian, drones are reported to have been used to harass the vessel and keep its air defences distracted before the missiles were fired from a hidden battery near Odesa. At least two of the missiles are then reported to have struck the ship – causing a massive explosion as they are believed to have detonated one of Moskva's exposed deckside missile tubes.[17] Slava-class cruisers like Moskva have been typically "known for their offensive punch, not for their defensive systems or their damage control".[18] Moskva is the largest warship to be sunk in combat since World War II.[19]

Earlier in April, on 3 April or 4 April, Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, claimed the Russian frigate Admiral Essen had been damaged by a Neptune missile. The Russians did not comment on the claim and the ship continued its mission as normal.[20][21]

Design[]

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. The system is designed to operate up to 25 kilometres (16 mi) inland of the coastline.[3]

A Neptune missile including rocket motor is 5.05 metres (16 ft 7 in) in length, with a cross-shaped hard wing. Neptune missiles are designed to be housed in transport and launch containers (TLC) with dimensions 5.30 by 0.60 by 0.60 metres (209 in × 24 in × 24 in). The system has a maximum range of about 300 kilometres (190 mi).[22][23] A single missile weighs 870 kilograms (1,920 lb), of which 150 kilograms (330 lb) are the warhead.[3]

Gallery[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Neptun Anti-Ship Cruise Missile". https://www.military-today.com/missiles/neptun.htm. 
  2. ↑ Episkopos, Mark (2019-02-06). "Ukraine Is Building Anti-Ship Missiles (In Part Thanks to Russia)". https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ukraine-building-anti-ship-missiles-part-thanks-russia-43532. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ponomarenko, Illia (March 15, 2021). "Ukraine's navy acquires first Neptune cruise missiles". Kyiv Post. https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukraines-navy-acquires-first-neptune-cruise-missiles.html. 
  4. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in uk). Espreso TV. 2015-09-24. http://espreso.tv/news/2015/09/24/fotofakt_u_kyyevi_prezentuvaly_novu_krylatu_raketu_neptun. 
  5. ↑ Hristoforov, Vladislav (2018-01-25). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in uk). http://uprom.info/news/vpk/protikorabelna-raketa-neptun-proyshla-chastinu-viprobuvan-u-2017-rotsi/. 
  6. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in uk). 2018-01-30. http://mil.in.ua/pershi-vyprobuvannya-ukrayinskoyi-krylatoyi-rakety/. 
  7. ↑ "Ukrainian cruise missile "Neptune" struck a maritime target at a distance of 100 km during the test". 2018-08-17. https://en.ukrmilitary.com/2018/08/neptun.html. 
  8. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ru). Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. 2019-04-06. https://zn.ua/UKRAINE/rakety-neptun-postupyat-na-vooruzhenie-vms-v-dekabre-314032_.html. 
  9. ↑ Peterson, Nolan (2019-03-13). "With an Eye to Russia, Ukraine Considers New Missiles After Cold War-Era Arms Control Treaty Collapses". https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/03/13/with-an-eye-to-russia-ukraine-considers-new-missiles-after-cold-war-era-arms-control-treaty-collapses/. 
  10. ↑ "Indonesia to sign contract with Ukraine to purchase RK-360MC Neptune mobile missile coastal defense system". 2020-12-28. https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2020/december/9477-indonesia-to-sign-contract-with-ukraine-to-purchase-rk-360mc-neptune-mobile-missile-coastal-defense-system.html. 
  11. ↑ "Ukrainian military hits Russian cruiser by Neptune missiles". 2022-04-13. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3456892-ukrainian-military-hits-russian-cruiser-by-neptune-missiles.html. 
  12. ↑ "Fire breaks out onboard Moskva missile cruiser, crew evacuated — defense ministry". 14 April 2022. https://tass.com/emergencies/1437443. 
  13. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ru). 2022-04-14. https://ria.ru/20220414/kreyser-1783435471.html. 
  14. ↑ Ljunggren, David (April 13, 2022). "Russia Says Ammunition Blast Damages Flagship of Black Sea Fleet - Interfax". U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-13/russia-says-major-ship-in-black-sea-fleet-badly-damaged-in-blast-interfax. 
  15. ↑ "Russian warship Moskva: What do we know?". BBC News. April 14, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61103927. 
  16. ↑ "Moskva cruiser sank while being towed in a storm — Russian Defense Ministry". April 14, 2022. https://tass.com/russia/1438045. 
  17. ↑ Holloway, Henry (15 April 2022). "Sneaky way Ukraine distracted Russian warship Moskva". https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/sneaky-way-ukraine-distracted-russian-warship-moskva/news-story/4243404b1394fa2f18d44290afeabd9a. 
  18. ↑ Lendon, Brad (15 April 2022). "Moskva sinking: What really happened to the pride of Russia's fleet?". CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/europe/russia-guided-missile-cruiser-moskva-sinks-intl-hnk-ml/index.html. 
  19. ↑ Mizokami, Kyle (15 April 2022). "Ukraine Sunk the Largest Warship Since WWII in a Major Blow to Russia". https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a39726517/russian-guided-missile-cruiser-moskva-sinks/. 
  20. ↑ Harding, Luke; Sauer, Pjotr; Borger, Julian; Elgot, Jessica (15 April 2022). "Russia's Moskva cruiser sinks following Ukrainian claim of missile strike". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/14/russia-moskva-cruiser-sunk-stormy-seas-defense-ministry. 
  21. ↑ Hambling, David (14 April 2022). "Ukraine's Bayraktar Drone Helped Sink Russian Flagship Moskva". https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2022/04/14/ukraines-bayraktar-drones-helped-destroy-russian-flagship/. 
  22. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in uk). 2018-08-17. https://mil.in.ua/neptun-uspishno-vrazyv-morsku-cil/. 
  23. ↑ "LUCH, State Kyiv Design Bureau". State Kyiv Design Bureau, LUCH. https://www.luch.kiev.ua/images/data/en/LuchEn.pdf. 

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