New Ukrainian Neptune missile sparks confusion among Western analyst
Photo: Defense Express refuted the Western theory about the fourth version of Neptune missile (facebook.com GeneralStaff ua)
The appearance of a new version of the Ukrainian R-360 Neptune cruise missile with conformal fuel tanks has confused Western experts, Defense Express reports.
The debut of the new R-360 Neptune version has sparked debate among analysts. The missile has conformal tanks, and some experts have suggested that this may already be the fourth variant of the system.
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Defense analyst H I Sutton identified four variants within the Neptune family:
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R-360, known before 2021
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Neptune-MD, an extended R-360 version, spotted in June 2024
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Long Neptune, shown in August 2025
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the new version of Neptune
However, Defense Express analysts note that the 2024 dating of the Neptune-MD is incorrect. It is actually an R-360 model that was at the manufacturer's facilities back in 2019–2020 and displayed at exhibitions.
They also point out that the index assigned to the new missile is inaccurate: RK-360L or Neptune-D (Long Neptune) has publicly known characteristics, and a video from an exhibition in Kyiv shows a missile with a variable-diameter fuselage without conformal tanks.
Most likely, the Long Neptune retains the same engine and tail section diameter, while its central fuselage section has been widened — roughly 0.5 m compared to 0.38 m in the base R-360.
Thus, at present, three versions of the Ukrainian cruise missile can be identified:
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R-360 with a range of 280 km
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R-360L (Neptune-D, Long Neptune) with a range of 1,000 km
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Neptune with conformal tanks and an estimated range of 500 km
In Latinized form, these are designated as R-360, R-360M (Middle), and R-360L (Long).
It is noted that existing photos of the missile were taken from different angles, so precise comparisons are difficult. However, given the frequency of public displays, photos of all three variants from the same angle are expected to appear over time.
It is also noted that European partners may show interest in Ukrainian weaponry, as the Long Neptune surpasses the performance of the only long-range cruise missile currently in Europe — the MdCN.
Yesterday, on October 7, Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal unveiled the new version of the Neptune missile.
According to Shmyhal, the Neptune and other Ukrainian-made weapons were also demonstrated to NATO representatives and other distinguished foreign guests.
Previously, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that last year, Ukrainian Neptune missiles successfully struck Russian targets over 50 times. However, he added that details of such operations are typically not disclosed.
