Ukraine has officially presented what seems to be the newest and most sophisticated iteration of its domestically developed Neptune cruise missile—a potent, long-range precision weapon that has played a significant role in targeting some of Russia’s most prominent military assets. The announcement marks an important milestone in Kyiv’s ongoing campaign to demonstrate both its self-sufficiency and growing technical mastery in defense manufacturing. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Denys Shmyhal, unveiled a new photograph of this missile, showcased prominently during a special presentation attended by several high-ranking European and NATO representatives. This event was organized as part of Kyiv’s broader strategy to highlight the extraordinary progress of its defense-industrial sector and to emphasize its readiness for deeper collaboration with Western security allies.
The newly released image represents one of the few publicly available glimpses of the Neptune missile, a weapon system that has operated under considerable secrecy throughout the duration of the war. Ukrainian authorities have consistently refrained from openly confirming when or how frequently Neptune missiles are deployed in combat operations. Nevertheless, rare photographs and carefully worded remarks from senior officials have gradually provided the international community with insight into the missile’s evolution. Since its debut on the battlefield in 2022, the system has undergone extensive modifications and technological refinements, suggesting a continuous process of research and adaptation in response to operational experience.
The most recent Neptune variant exhibits distinctive external features, including unusual protrusions or bulges along its fuselage. According to independent missile experts, these structural additions are likely to be auxiliary fuel tanks, incorporated to extend the weapon’s flight range and thus allow it to strike targets at even greater distances. Ukrainian authorities have not publicly released updated specifications regarding the missile’s maximum reach, maintaining strategic discretion about its true capabilities. While it remains uncertain whether this enhanced configuration has yet been deployed in active combat, the public display itself underscores Kyiv’s persistent commitment to developing robust long-range strike options that can effectively challenge its adversaries’ deep defense infrastructure.
Accompanying imagery provided by Defense Minister Shmyhal on social media showcased a detailed close-up of the missile, clearly revealing its modified contours. He explained that the demonstration for visiting foreign officials was designed not only to present field-ready systems already identified as effective against enemy positions—both at the front line and within Russian territory—but also to attract potential partners for joint production ventures. In his subsequent social media statement, Shmyhal emphasized the diverse portfolio of modern equipment now being produced domestically: drones, ammunition, guided missiles, robotic systems, artillery platforms, and armored vehicles. These, he noted, represent the backbone of Ukraine’s new defense-industrial identity and stand as tangible proof of its capacity to supply and innovate under wartime conditions.
The R-360 Neptune itself originates from the Luch Design Bureau, a premier Ukrainian weapons developer with longstanding expertise in missile technology. Originally engineered as an anti-ship missile and derived from the design principles of the Soviet-era Kh-35, the Neptune was built to be mobile, deployable from truck-based launchers, and capable of engaging maritime threats at extended distances. The initial model could strike targets nearly 200 miles away, carrying a 330-pound explosive payload. However, as the conflict evolved, the missile’s role expanded dramatically. Engineers adapted it for land-attack missions, thereby transforming it into a far more versatile and dynamic weapon capable of addressing multiple strategic objectives.
By 2023, Ukrainian officials publicly acknowledged that the Neptune was being modified to achieve longer operational ranges, while the production of serial units had significantly scaled up. Then, in March of the following year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the so-called “Long Neptune”—a further refined variant boasting a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, or around 620 miles—had not only been fully tested but had also seen active service. The longer, heavier version, revealed through official footage released in August on the state-managed Zbroya weapons portal, featured a warhead estimated at about 575 pounds and was visibly larger than earlier models.
Operationally, Ukraine has employed Neptune missiles against an array of high-value Russian targets, ranging from the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship vessel to air defense systems, oil processing facilities, and various military industrial sites. Local media reported that, as of this week, Kyiv disclosed that over the past year alone the Neptune family of missiles had been used in more than fifty distinct strikes on Russian assets, including a recent attack on an industrial facility. Speaking before the International Defense Industries Forum, President Zelenskyy highlighted these accomplishments, emphasizing that Ukraine’s indigenous cruise missiles—such as Neptune—have been repeatedly and successfully employed. He added that, in time, Ukraine aims to begin regularly deploying its own domestically produced ballistic missiles as well, expanding its independent deterrence and strike portfolio.
Since the outset of the war, Ukraine has devoted substantial financial and scientific resources to developing an array of long-range munitions and unmanned aerial systems. These homegrown technologies have proven essential, allowing Kyiv to project force deep into Russian territory at a time when Western-supplied ballistic and cruise missile systems are often subject to usage restrictions. Indeed, the growing suite of domestically designed weapons now matches, and in certain cases even surpasses, the performance and effective range of comparable Western models. The Neptune’s transition from an anti-ship missile into a powerful land-attack weapon symbolizes this technological leap—representing a convergence of necessity, ingenuity, and engineering excellence.
Demonstrating the continuing momentum of Ukraine’s weapons innovation, defense officials recently introduced another advanced cruise missile system, codenamed “Flamingo.” This new design purportedly possesses an extraordinary range of around 1,800 miles—roughly triple that of the Long Neptune and more than three times the strike distance of the British-made Storm Shadow cruise missile that Ukraine also operates. Similarly, the country’s indigenously produced long-range drones have been conducting attacks on Russian targets located more than 1,000 miles beyond the front lines. These aerial vehicles have repeatedly targeted airports, storage facilities, ammunition depots, arms plants, and other key logistical nodes essential to sustaining Moscow’s war machinery. In recent weeks, Kyiv has intensified such operations by directing its unmanned systems toward the Russian energy sector, inflicting damage on oil refineries and depots in an effort to disrupt the financial channels that fund the Russian military campaign.
At the defense industry forum, President Zelenskyy underscored the strategic significance of these developments, declaring that the drones capable of striking Russia’s vital oil infrastructure represent a new and unprecedented demonstration of Ukraine’s growing reach and resilience. He emphasized that never before in its history has Ukrainian national defense possessed such long-range capabilities or exerted such direct and tangible pressure within Russian territory. This evolution—from the original Neptune’s maritime role to the country’s new generation of multi-domain long-range weapons—symbolizes a profound transformation in Ukraine’s defense paradigm, one rooted in technological creativity, battlefield pragmatism, and the urgent drive for self-reliance.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-reveals-latest-variant-homemade-neptune-missile-new-fuel-tanks-2025-10
