Estonia Interests to Buy Ukrainian-Made Neptune Long-Range Cruise Missile System.

On October 9, 2024, the Estonian media outlet ERR reported that Estonia had shown strong interest in acquiring Ukrainian-made weapons to strengthen bilateral defense ties and boost Ukraine’s defense production capabilities. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed this interest, emphasizing that cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry could lead to increased production of critical military equipment for both nations. Among Estonia's potential acquisitions is the long-range Neptune cruise missile system, which Pevkur considers essential to the national defense strategy, although he refrained from commenting further on the details of ongoing negotiations.
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Artist rendering about the modified Neptune naval strike missile. (Picture source: @ChuckPfarrer)

The minister specified that such an export of military equipment could be pursued under certain conditions. “If we obtain the consent of the Ukrainian government, this can be implemented. It’s important to understand that if we buy, Ukraine will receive additional funds, which would strengthen their production for the needs of their army,” he stated. Mikhailo Samus, director of the Ukrainian Center for New Geopolitical Research, suggested an alternative involving the creation of a joint venture in Estonia with Ukrainian investments and specialists, allowing for the production of equipment specifically for the Estonian army without breaching the export ban imposed by martial law.

The Neptune Missile was first presented at the 2015 Arms and Security International Exhibition in Kyiv and entered service with the Ukrainian Navy in 2021. Weighing 870 kg and measuring 5.05 meters in length, the Neptune is designed to target naval vessels with displacements of up to 9,000 tons. It has an operational range of over 200 kilometers and, in its land-attack variant, can strike both sea and land targets. The missile is equipped with a Motor Sich MS400 turbofan engine and enhanced targeting and electronic systems compared to its Soviet predecessor, the Kh-35.

Currently, Estonia's primary cruise missile system is the Blue Spear 5G SSM, an advanced anti-ship missile developed by Proteus Advanced Systems, a joint venture between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Singapore's ST Engineering. This system, part of Estonia’s coastal defense, is equipped with a range of approximately 290 km and employs sophisticated targeting technologies, including an active radar-homing seeker and GPS-independent navigation, which enhance its reliability in contested environments.

The Neptune missile system comprises mobile launchers, transport/reload vehicles, command-and-control vehicles, and specialized transport trucks, designed for deployment up to 25 kilometers inland from the coast. Operational tests and combat scenarios have demonstrated its effectiveness, notably in the 2022 attack on the Russian cruiser Moskva. Ukraine is currently working on extending the missile's range to 1,000 kilometers and ramping up production.

Aside from the Moskva's destruction, the Neptune missile has been successfully deployed in other naval and coastal operations. On multiple occasions, Ukrainian forces have used the Neptune to target Russian logistical support vessels operating near the coast, including tugboats and landing ships. These strikes disrupted Russian supplies and weakened their amphibious operational capacity in the region. For example, attacks on supply ships near Snake Island forced the Russian Navy to limit its movements in the area, reducing its ability to support ground forces. Additionally, the Neptune's use compelled Russia's Black Sea Fleet to adopt a more defensive posture and reposition its units at a safe distance from Ukrainian shores.

Romania, following the example of other European countries, plans to develop armaments in collaboration with Ukraine, focusing specifically on the R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles. The significance of cooperation between Bucharest and Kyiv in both defense and energy sectors was highlighted by Igor Prokopchuk following his visit to Romania. In April 2023, it was revealed that the Ukrainian defense industry was working on modernizing the R-360, although the final results of these efforts remain uncertain.

Developed by Ukraine's Luch Design Bureau, the Neptune missile has seen significant upgrades since its debut. Initially introduced as a coastal defense asset, recent improvements have focused on precision targeting. The missile now uses pre-loaded data and descends to a near sea-skimming altitude as it approaches its target, activating its active radar homing system in the terminal phase to improve accuracy while minimizing radar detectability.

The complete Neptune system includes several specialized components: the USPU-360 mobile launcher, the TZM-360 transport and reload vehicle, and the RCP-360 command-and-control unit, each mounted on Czech Tatra T815-7 trucks, which replaced the earlier KrAZ-based prototypes. This setup allows the system to be deployed effectively along coastlines and up to 25 km inland, offering strategic flexibility.

The missile itself is over five meters long, carries a 150 kg high-explosive warhead, and has a range of up to 300 km. Its low-altitude approach and radar-guided final phase were critical in the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva, underscoring its effectiveness in maritime warfare. Speculation continues about a future variant with an extended range of up to 1,000 km, a development that could significantly alter the Black Sea's strategic dynamics and potentially shift regional naval strategies as Ukraine bolsters defenses along the Azov Sea coast.

The "Long Neptune" project reflects Ukraine's efforts to enhance its Neptune missile system by developing a new variant with extended range and multi-target capability.

The Neptune missile system provides armed forces with a versatile weapon that strengthens both coastal and inland defenses. With its precision targeting, extended range options (up to 400 km and potentially 1000 km), and low-altitude approach, Neptune is designed to evade radar and strike high-value naval and ground targets. Its mobile launcher enables rapid deployment up to 25 km inland, expanding operational flexibility beyond coastal zones. This adaptability allows forces to counter threats across a broader range, making Neptune a valuable asset for maritime control and inland strategic defense