Ukraine has demonstrated a missile for the first time, which, according to media and expert comments, is a modernized version with an increased range of the "Neptune" cruise missile. Footage of it was published on social networks by the state portal of enterprises of the country's military-industrial complex, the BBC reports.
The video does not officially indicate what type of missile is shown, but Ukrainian media note that it is a "long-range version" of "Neptune". In the video, the new model is shown immediately after the launch of the basic version, which has a range of about 280 km.
It is the "Neptune" missiles were used on April 13, 2022 to destroy the missile cruiser "Moskva" - the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Ukrainian authorities recall.
The characteristics of the new version have not been publicly announced. According to information from Ukrainian officials and reports of test launches, its range could reach up to 1,000 km. Back in September 2023, the BBC Ukrainian Service reported on the development of a variant with a range of 700 km.
The demonstration of the "Neptune" with an increased range comes just days after Ukraine presented a new "Flamingo" cruise missile with a claimed range of up to 1,000 km and a warhead weighing three tons.
The development of long-range missiles could change the balance of war, where Russia has an advantage in striking deep behind the scenes. Until now, Ukraine has mainly used slow and relatively small drones with propellers, which have already caused significant damage to the Russian oil industry and temporarily stopped air traffic.
The combination of drones and cruise missiles could significantly increase the effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes - a tactic that is already systematically used by the Russian army.