Ukraine ordered a first batch of Neptune anti-ship missile systems

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and LUCH Design Bureau on December 30 signed a contract for the delivery of a first batch of RK-360MT Neptune mobile anti-ship missiles. First deliveries will take place in 2021.
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According to the contract, the Ukrainian MoD will receive enough missiles and command and control, mobile launcher, reloader and transport vehicles to equip a first division. The Neptune missile system was formally adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on August 23, 2020.

Neptune anti-ship system is equipped with cruise missiles capable of reaching target at distance of up to 300 km. The rocket is powered by starting and main engines. The first is a modified solid propellant launch accelerator coming from the S-125 Pechora anti-aircraft missile. The MS-400 main turbojet engine is manufactured in Ukraine by Motor Sich.

The homing head for the missile, “which has ultra-high viewing angles and is able to detect and capture the target at a distance of up to 50 km“, was developed by the Ukrainian company Radionics.

From left to right: Command and control vehicle, Mobile launcher based on KrAZ-7634NE chassis, Reloader vehicle, Transport vehicle.

The specialized blog BMPD points out that one complete Neptune division should normally include six USPU-360 launchers with 24 anti-ship missiles, and the corresponding number (six of each) of reloader vehicles (TZM-360) and transport vehicles (TM-360). Theoretically, one division should then be armed with 72 R-360 anti-ship missiles (four missiles on each of the six vehicles – USPU-360, TZM-360 and TM-360).

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