Ukraine Aggressively Modernizing Its Winged Missiles for Enhanced Precision and Range
Ukraine is actively overhauling its sole winged missile, aiming to boost its precision and reach. In an interview with "Army Inform," Rear Admiral Alexey Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, revealed that significant advancements have been made to the anti-ship cruise missile "Neptune" since April 2022, when it sank the Russian cruiser "Moscow."
"We’ve joined an elite club of countries that produce winged missiles. After sinking ‘Moscow,’ our Naval Forces even took the lead in this club," Neizhpapa stated. Notably, he chairs the state commission overseeing "Neptune" acceptance, ensuring he oversees the missile’s modernization process.
"We’re continuously refining the missile’s design to increase its operational range and improve accuracy," Neizhpapa disclosed, teasing, "The ‘Neptune’ of 2022 and 2024 are like two different missiles."
Recent developments include Ukraine’s approval of a Marine Security Strategy in July 2023, with its action plan endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in late November. This plan includes ramping up "Neptune" anti-ship cruise missile production, collaborating with foreign enterprises and integrating advanced innovations. The goal is not only to meet current defense needs but also to build strategic reserves by 2025.
In parallel, Ukrainian specialist Vсадim Сухаревський revealed the development of a new laser weapon, "Tryzub." While Suharesvsky didn’t share further details, Defense Express analysts inferred that the necessary technologies for building this battle laser are already available and could be quickly produced by Ukrainian defense startups.
Other recent Ukrainian defense industry news includes:
- The successful test launch of a new Ukrainian anti-ship missile with a range of over 300 km
- The establishment of a stateHetman Mamay joint venture to manufacture combat drones