Neptune (cruise missile)

Test launch, 2019

Neptune (Ukrainian: П-360 «Нептун», romanized: P-360 “Neptun”) is a Ukrainian cruise anti-ship missile developed by Luch Design Bureau which has maximum firing range of 280 km.^[1] Expected to be mounted on three platforms: ship, land and air launchers.^[2] The missile is in service in the Ukrainian Navy since March 2021.^[3]

The missiles are designed to be located in transport and launch containers (TLC) with dimensions of 5,300 × 600 × 600 mm. The length of the missile itself with an accelerator of 5,050 mm. TLC with a rocket with a cross-shaped hard wing can be placed on terrestrial, marine or air carriers.

The system is designed to defeat combat surface ships and transport vessels from the structure of shock groups (convoy) or moving individually with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons.

The missile is based on a design of the Soviet anti-ship missile Kh-35, however Ukrainian constructors substantially improved missile range and electronics.^[4]

History[]

The missile was revealed for the first time in the exhibition "Weapons and Security 2015" which held in Kyiv.^[5]

According to information from open sources, the first flight samples of the cruise missile were manufactured in the spring of 2016. Production of advanced missile weapons takes place in cooperation with other Ukrainian enterprises, including Artem Luch GAhK, [uk], «Motor Sich» (turbofan MS-400 engine), Pivdenne YuMZ PivdenMash, Lviv LORTA or other radar electronics, Vyshneve ZhMZ Vizar Kiev and others.^{[citation needed]}

March 22, 2016, the first tests of the Neptune missile were conducted. The tests were attended by secretary of NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov. In mid-2017, missiles were tested concurrently with trials of the Vilkha complex. However, unlike the Vilkha, the test results and capabilities of the "Neptune" rocket were not advertised.^[6] On January 30, 2018, according to the press service of NSDC, the first flight tests of the Ukrainian ground-based cruise missile, which is capable of accurately hitting ground and naval targets, were successful.^[7] On August 17, 2018, the missile successfully hit a target at the range of 100 km during test fire in the southern part of Odesa oblast.^[8] 6 April 2019, the missile was successfully tested again and hit target during tests near Odesa, according to President Petro Poroshenko's statement, it would be provided to the Ukrainian military in December 2019.^[9]

Maximum range is about 300 km.^[10]

After the United States and the Russian Federation both left the INF Treaty, Ukraine announced that it was considering developing intermediate-range cruise missiles. Analysts consider an extended-range Neptune missile to be a candidate for such an effort.^[11]

A Memorandum was signed with the Republic of Indonesia on concluding a contract for the supply of a complex of anti-ship cruise missiles RK-360MC "Neptune" manufactured by KB "Luch".^[12]

Thus, Indonesia may become the first foreign buyer of "Neptune" , according to Defense Express 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]