Ukraine is developing a dangerous new weapon

Ukrainian engineers are working on developing a ground-launched version of the cruise missile that sank the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s flagship. Here’s how the new weapon as well as how it could affect the ongoing war. 

One of the pivotal moments in Ukraine's battle against Russia was the day that Ukraine sunk the Moskva missile cruiser. The details of what happened are still rather sparse but we do know R-360 Neptune missiles were involved.

NBC News reported that American intelligence helped Ukraine locally and hit the Moskva with two of its homemade cruise missiles, which was what ignited the fire that ultimately led to the ship sinking just south of Odesa. 

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Ukraine’s R-360 Neptune cruise missile was originally designed as an anti-ship weapon but it has been undergoing a re-development according to one government official who noted that work on the project was well underway. 

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“Now, we are working to create the so-called long-range Neptune,” Ukrainian Defense Deputy Minister, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk remarked during an interview with ArmyInform that was translated by Ukrinform. 

“This refers to a new missile modification for the Neptune systems,” Havryliuk went on to explain, adding that work was also underway with Ukraine's Strategic Industries Ministry to bolster the country’s air defenses. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By President.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0

The reason why adding a homemade long-range ground launch cruise missile to Kyiv’s arsenal of weapons is important is because it would allow the country to strike targets inside of Russia without worrying its allies. 

The United States and Ukraine's other allies had been hesitant to supply the country with a healthy supply of long-range cruise missiles in the past due to the fear that it might invoke the ire of Russia if used on its soil. 

“Biden’s initial reluctance to supply longer-range missile systems was due to U.S. fears that [its] ATACMS could potentially be used to strike targets deep into Russian territory, risking escalation,” The Conversation’s Christoph Bluth reported. 

However, Biden eventually relented and sent Ukraine long-range missiles from the U.S. as well as its British and French allies, but the use of those cruise missiles might have been restricted to targets inside Ukraine's borders. 

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Further details on Ukraine's mission to develop its own long-range cruise missile from the Neptune could not be disclosed but unverified reports about its development have been circulating the news media for months. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By President.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0

In September, Business Insider reported that one of Ukraine’s newly developed missiles was likely used to destroy one of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense systems but based on comments from Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary. 

"[The] S-400 launcher in Crimea was destroyed by [a] new Ukrainian missile,” Oleksiy Danilov was quoted as saying in a Twitter post from Clash Report. “The missile was new…The missile was absolutely modern." But how could such a weapon affect the war?

Business Insider’s Rebecca Rommen reported that the development of a homegrown Ukrainian long-range cruise missile could “mark a crucial juncture in the conflict” as Western countries put limits on the use of the long-range missiles they sent to Ukraine.

“If Ukraine can prove that its modified missile is capable of striking Moscow, it would have huge implications for the war and could go a long way in terms of leveling the playing field between Ukraine and Russia,” Rommen added. 

Ukraine’s Neptune cruise missile was originally developed by the Luch Design Bureau and it measures an impressive 16 feet long. The Neptune can carry a payload of up to 330 pounds, weighs 1,920 pounds, and can hit targets as far as 190 miles away. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By VoidWanderer - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0