"The Long Neptune" Was Shown To The Public For The First Time
- 2.10.2025, 7:56
Analysts explained what makes the missile special.
Ukraine has officially unveiled a modernized cruise missile RK360L, known as "Long Neptune", capable of covering up to 1,000 km with a warhead weighing 260 kg. The missile parameters were demonstrated at the Kiev exhibition along with the Neptun-D complex.
According to the Defence Express portal, the state-run Zbroya portal showed the full technical specifications of the RK360L missile and the Neptun-D complex for the first time at an interactive exhibition in Kiev. The new modification is officially designated by the indices "Neptun-D" for the complex and RK360L for the missile. Interestingly, the declared range reaches 1,000 km - this is almost 3.5 times more than the anti-ship version of the R-360, which reached only 280 km.
The weight of the warhead has also increased to 260 kg against 150 kg of the previous version. That is, the developers were able to combine two complex characteristics at the same time - to increase both the range and the power of the warhead. According to available photos you can see that the length of the missile without the booster is about 6 meters, that is 1.5 meters more than the R-360, and the diameter of the body has grown to about 50 cm from 38 cm.
In addition, it is important that the RK360L retains the ability to hit both land and sea targets, that is, moving objects remain in the kill zone. Although details of the guidance system have not been disclosed, the ability to attack ships suggests that the active radar homing head remains.
To fly over land, engineers have solved several difficult problems: the missile is capable of traversing variable terrain, following a specific route without satellite navigation, and accurately engaging ground targets - which is notoriously more difficult than targeting large metal objects at sea. And, as an added bonus, the RK360L has both increased range and mass of the warhead, making it a truly unique development.