The long-range version of the Ukrainian cruise missile, known only by the unofficial name «Long Neptune», has likely been shown publicly for the first time.
The long-range version of the Ukrainian cruise missile, known only by the unofficial name «Long Neptune», has likely been shown publicly for the first time.
On Ukraine’s Independence Day, a video was released on the official account of the state portal «Zbroia» in which, most likely, it is demonstrated, along with other samples of Ukrainian weapons.
As Defense Express writes, the video itself does not mention it. It is also worth adding that the launch videos are old, filmed during the live fire tests of the Neptune coastal complex in 2018-2020.
No specifications of this missile have been made public, but the range parameter of 1000 km was announced earlier, as was the fact that the missile is designed to hit ground targets. And let’s note that if the «Long Neptune» has been flying at the enemy since March, then its appearance is unlikely to be a surprise to him.
It is also possible to compare images of the Long Neptune with its first anti-ship version, the R-360.
Most likely, the tail section, where the engine is located, has not undergone any changes, and therefore it can be taken as a «reference point» for the scale. And this means that the length of the «Long Neptune» is over 6 meters (without the accelerator). That is, it is about 1.5 meters longer than the R-360.
The central part of the Long Neptune’s fuselage was increased in diameter, to approximately 50 cm from 38 cm. That is, the new rocket is not only longer, it is also «thicker». This is apparently due to the need to increase the fuel. At the same time, the nose fairing has the same diameter.
The area of the wings and tail fin has also increased, which should compensate for the higher take-off weight. As for the weight of the warhead, in the old version it was 150 kg, for the «Long Neptune», these parameters are unknown.
The long-range version of the R-360 Neptune cruise missile, known as the Long Neptune, was tested in March of this year and can hit the enemy at a range of 1,000 km. But despite the fact that its development has been known since November 2023, there has been no image of it.
