R-360 Neptune
UkrainianR-360 Neptune / Neptun
The R-360 Neptune is a Ukrainian-designed anti-ship cruise missile based on Soviet Kh-35 technology but significantly modernized. It became world-famous on April 13, 2022 when two Neptune missiles struck and sank the Russian flagship cruiser Moskva — the largest warship sunk in combat since WWII.
Primary Role
Anti-ship strikes, increasingly adapted for land-attack missions
First documented use in Ukraine: 2022-04-13
Specifications
| Range | ~280 km (anti-ship), 400+ km (land-attack variant) |
| Speed | Subsonic (~0.85 Mach) |
| Warhead | 145–150 kg HE |
| Guidance | INS + active radar seeker |
| Flight altitude | 3–10 m (sea-skimming) |
| Country | Ukraine |
✓ Strengths
- •Sea-skimming flight profile — extremely hard to detect and intercept
- •Long range — forces enemy fleet beyond effective gun and missile range
- •Proven combat effectiveness — sank a 12,000-ton cruiser
- •Domestically produced — not dependent on foreign supply chains
⚠ Limitations
- •Subsonic — potentially vulnerable to point-defense systems
- •Limited production capacity compared to demand
- •Original design optimized for anti-ship rather than land attack
Notable Use
On April 13–14, 2022, two Neptune missiles struck and sank the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva (Slava-class cruiser). This was the largest warship sunk in combat since the Falklands War (1982). The sinking forced Russia to reposition Black Sea Fleet assets away from Ukrainian missile range.
Ukraine War Context
Ukraine has used Neptune missiles to defend Odesa Oblast and the Black Sea coast. A land-attack variant called the Neptune-UKr has reportedly been developed with extended range to strike targets in Crimea and on Russian territory around the Black Sea.