MSPO 2022: Russian invasion forces Ukraine to disperse Neptune anti-ship missile production

Luch displayed a full-scale mock-up of a Neptune anti-ship missile at MSPO 2022. (State Kyiv Design Bureau ‘Luch')

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced State Kyiv Design Bureau ‘Luch' to disperse production of the Neptune anti-ship missile, a Luch representative told Janes on the first day of the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2022 being held in Kielce from 6 to 9 September.

Production of the missile has been dispersed to undisclosed locations outside Kyiv, he said.

He denied when asked by Janes that this was affecting production, adding that supply chains were not disrupted. He claimed the Neptune engine was still produced in Ukraine. The turbojet engine is produced by Motor Sich, according to Janes Weapons: Naval.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Luch at the end of 2020 for an unspecified number of Neptune missiles.

While saying “Neptune is close to my heart”, Taras Czmut, head of Ukraine‘s largest ‘military' foundation, ‘Come Back Alive', told Polish journalists and Janes on 7 September that 360 missiles were ordered before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February and that only a few dozen units had been produced and used. He thought it was probably not possible for Ukraine to produce the missile, hence Ukraine's acquisition of Harpoon anti-ship missiles.