As part of a demonstration of Ukraine’s industrial and military production capabilities for foreign officials, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal presented a new variant of the R-360 Neptune anti-ship missile, which is part of the country’s naval arsenal. The new model features distinctive protrusions that, according to analysts, could allow for increased fuel storage, extending the missile’s range and enabling strikes deeper into Russian territory.
Expanding on the details, Minister Shmyhal himself published an image of the new missile on social media, accompanied by a brief description mentioning the allied officials who attended the event. Among them were Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, and Norwegian Defense Secretary Andreas Flåm. The delegation also had the opportunity to observe the Magura-7 naval drone and the Peklo unmanned missile-launching system—both already known to the public.
From a technical standpoint, it is worth recalling that the original Neptune missile developed by Ukraine is derived from the Soviet Kh-35, designed primarily as an anti-ship weapon but also capable of striking land targets. The main difference from its predecessor, according to defense reports, lies in its fins’ stepped-sweep design. Each missile is powered by a turbofan engine that gives it a maximum range of about 300 kilometers, according to the manufacturer.
In its land-attack variant, used by Ukrainian forces since 2023, the Neptune benefitted from a new inertial navigation system assisted by GPS and an infrared sensor replacing the original active radar seeker. This version extended the range beyond the original 300 kilometers, reaching targets up to 360 kilometers away, while the later Long Neptune version pushed that figure to 1,000 kilometers.
Returning to the newly presented version, the missile features two protrusions on either side of its forward section, just ahead of the fins. While Minister Shmyhal’s post did not clarify their function or when they were added, the leading Western hypothesis is that they increase internal fuel capacity, thereby extending operational range. A less likely possibility is that the missile now carries a heavier warhead, with the extra fuel meant to compensate for its added weight and preserve its current range.
If the first theory proves accurate, the new variant would give Ukrainian planners an intermediate strike capability—allowing Long Neptune missiles to be reserved for missions requiring maximum reach. Analysts also suggest these upgrades could potentially be retrofitted into existing Neptune airframes, making the enhancement more cost-effective than producing new Long Neptune units.
Beyond these technical considerations, the development aligns with Ukraine’s broader goal of ensuring that up to 50% of all munitions used on the front lines are domestically produced by the end of the year—an important milestone for the nation’s defense industry. Moreover, the Neptune missile family has played an increasingly central role in Ukrainian naval operations against Russian targets, reportedly being used in more than 50 attacks over the past year.
Cover image: @Denys_Shmyhal on X
You may also like: Greece would negotiate with France the sale of its Mirage 2000-5 fighters for transfer to the Ukrainian Air Force
