R-360 Neptune is a Ukrainian cruise missile system developed first as an anti-ship weapon and later adapted for a wider strike role, including land targets.
As of April 17, 2026, official Ukrainian communication for the baseline version indicates: strike range up to 300 km, warhead mass 150 kg, and mission profile against both surface and ground targets.
Program timeline in brief
- Program foundation as a naval-strengthening project, with development roots traced to 2013.
- Formal adoption of the Neptune complex into service in 2020.
- Official linkage in Ukrainian communications to the April 2022 sinking of the cruiser Moskva.
- Further line development highlighted in 2024-2025, including long-range Neptune track references.
How to frame the baseline Neptune correctly
In expert writing, baseline R-360 Neptune is best presented as serial Ukrainian missile weaponry that evolved from a coastal anti-ship mission into broader strike use, while remaining a core element of Ukraine's cruise-missile design school.
Important analytical separation
- Baseline Neptune: up to 300 km range, 150 kg warhead.
- Long-range variants: discussed separately, with parameters tied to later official or semi-official disclosures.
Editorial takeaway
Neptune's significance is not only tactical. It represents continuity of national missile engineering under wartime pressure and a transition from single-domain coastal defense to a more flexible strike architecture.
