The National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) of Ukraine stated on 30 January 2018 that the tests were conducted to demonstrate the missile’s flight characteristics and operation. The missile is a Ukrainian development from the Luch Design Bureau in Kiev, claimed to rely entirely on Ukrainian technology.
The range of the missile, the first wholly made in Ukraine, has not been revealed but is said to be in line with Ukraine’s international agreements. The Ukraine has tested a cruise missile capable of delivering precise hits on ground and seaborne targets. It was the first test, but it is very important for Ukraine because after complete disarmament, which happened after the Budapest memorandum was signed, no cruise missile remained in service in Ukraine. Authorities did not reveal the range of the locally made missile but said it was in line with the country’s international agreements.
One of the leading defense enterprises of Ukraine specialized in the high-precision weaponry oversees the development of the news anti-ship missile complex. The missile complex will be produced in two different variants: ship-based and coast-based. The cruise missile is designed to be launched from a container similar to the one used for C-300 surface-to-air missile complex.
Ukraine has been battling Russian-backed separatists in the east in a conflict that erupted after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Kiev has committed to spending 5 percent of the county’s gross domestic product on defence.
The missile was not named by the authorities, but has been identified on the Defence Blog media outlet as the Neptune, based on the Soviet-designed Kh-35 introduced to the Russian military in 2003. he missile can sink warships with displacements of up to 5,000 tons of water – which would include all of Russia’s landing ships and frigates.
