The long-range version of the R-360 Neptune cruise missile, unofficially called Long Neptune, was tested in March 2025 and is capable of striking targets at distances up to 1,000 km.
Although its development has been publicly known since November 2023, no images of the missile had surfaced — until now. On Ukraine’s Independence Day, the official account of the Zbroia state defense industry portal released a video that appears to show the missile alongside other Ukrainian weapons.
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The footage does not identify the missile by name, but its design, featuring X-shaped folding wings, leaves little doubt. The launch scenes included in the video are archival clips from 2018–2020, when the original Neptune coastal defense system underwent firing tests.
Official specifications for Long Neptune have not been disclosed, beyond statements that it has a 1,000 km range and is designed for striking ground targets. If the missile has been in operational use since March, as suggested, then its appearance is unlikely to come as a surprise to russian forces.
A visual comparison with the original anti-ship R-360 Neptune highlights several changes. The tail section, housing the engine, appears unmodified and can serve as a scale reference. Based on this, Long Neptune is estimated to exceed 6 meters in length (without the booster), making it roughly 1.5 meters longer than the R-360.
The central fuselage has also been enlarged, with its diameter increased from about 38 cm to roughly 50 cm. The missile is therefore not only longer but also thicker, likely to accommodate greater fuel capacity. By contrast, the nose section maintains the same diameter as before.
The wing and tail surfaces have been enlarged as well, presumably to balance the higher take-off weight. The warhead of the original Neptune weighed 150 kg, but the corresponding figure for the long-range version has not been made public.
The Zbroia portal, which published the video, is presented as a single brand and service platform for Ukrainian defense manufacturers. It was launched by the Ministry of Strategic Industries, which was dissolved on July 21, 2025, with its functions transferred to the Ministry of Defense.
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