Can Ukrainian Neptune missiles and drones replace US weapons? Expert's opinion
Illustrative photo: Neptune (facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua)
Ukrainian missiles and drones will not replace American weapons. However, they make Ukraine more independent from the supply of Western arms, this opinion was expressed by aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap in a commentary for the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
"Our Neptune is now a missile that has no equivalent in the world in its class. This is because it is a surface-to-surface missile, meaning ground-to-ground. It is ground-based. And while the Storm Shadow in its non-export version flies 260 km, and with an additional engine it can reach up to 900-960 km, our little Neptune is small and neat, but it flies nearly a thousand kilometers with its warhead," the expert explained.
According to Kryvolap, if the Neptune is attached to an aircraft and integrated, the missile’s range will increase even further.
"If everything necessary is done, it will be a cruise missile capable of flying 1,400-1,440 km. And let me remind you that the Tomahawk flies 1,600 km. So, it becomes comparable," Kryvolap added.
In his opinion, Ukraine can be relatively independent in this regard, especially since there are already drones of entirely Ukrainian production.
"In terms of the component base, some elements are not entirely ours yet, but everything else — all the boxes that perform functions, not just the circuit boards — are already ours. Many of the engines are ours as well. So, in this sense, we are not as dependent," the expert explained.
At the same time, Kryvolap pointed to the example of F-16 fighter jets. He is convinced that Ukraine received them with some ammunition, but there may be challenges in the future.
"That's why we cannot say that our drone, which flies 3,000 kilometers, and the Neptune will replace American weapons. No, they will not replace them. But they create new opportunities for us, allowing us to be more independent from supplies from all our Western partners," Kryvolap concluded.
Ukrainian Long-range Neptune missile
Back in December 2023, it was reported that Ukraine was developing Long-range Neptune missiles. Their development was classified, and at that time, work was also underway to modernize the Buk and S-300 surface-to-air missile systems.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Long-range Neptune missile had undergone testing and successful combat use.
Additionally, in August 2024, during Independence Day events, President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had used a new missile-drone called Palianytsia for the first time. He emphasized that this weapon is the result of Ukrainian engineers' work.
