In this strategic update, we will discuss the need for Ukraine to domestically develop and produce its own long-range missiles, and how Ukraine found the solution to its problems in repurposing the R-360 Neptune anti-ship missile. We will analyze how the new variant has the ability to become the main long-range ground-to-ground weapon for Ukraine’s arsenal, and we will overview the main capabilities of this powerful weapon system.The R-360 Neptune missile is a Ukrainian-made weapon inspired by the Russian Kh-35 missile, that was initially commissioned in 2010 to the Kiev based company “LUCH Design Bureau” as a subsonic anti-ship missile. Several Ukrainian manufacturers contributed to its development, including Motor Sich, a jet engine supplier for Antonov aircraft, and the aftermentioned LUCH Design Bureau, known for producing the internationally acclaimed “Stugna-P” ATGM, which has destroyed countless Russian tanks. After several delays, the R-360 Neptune was finally introduced into service in 2021, gaining worldwide attention on April 13, 2022, when it was responsible for the sinking of the Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. This event marked the largest warship sunk since World War II. The impact of this action, and the intensification of Ukrainian naval drone strikes, prompted the Russian Black Sea Fleet to retreat from Sevastopol to more distant ports to protect itself from the new Ukrainian capabilities.Since the beginning of the war in 2022, various reports have indicated that the Neptune missile has undergone updates and enhancements to transform it into a ground-to-ground missile, improving its range, payload, and guidance and navigation systems. This new version has informally been dubbed the “Long Neptune” as Ukraine confirmed a series of successful strikes on Russian territory along 2024. These strikes, attributed to the Long Neptune, include targets such as a fuel depot and a Shahed drone storage facility in the Krasnodar region and an S-400 anti-aircraft battery in Tarkhankut Cape, Crimea, among others.The Long Neptune has an increased range from 300 kilometers to 400 kilometers and its payload has increased from 150 kilograms to 350, significantly increasing its destructive power. The improved guidance systems now incorporate modern satellite and inertial positioning technologies, improving its navigation and targeting capabilities, and making them less vulnerable to Russian electronic countermeasures. Initially designed to be launched from a ground vehicle, work is underway to develop an air-launched variant as well, capable of being launched from fighter-bombers such as the Su-24.Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the revamped R-360 Neptune is now in mass production, with 100 units to be manufactured by the end of 2024 and an order for 3,000 missiles placed for 2025. This significant development and investment effort underscores the critical importance of this weapon within Ukraine’s overall strategy for several reasons:First and foremost, the Long Neptune allows Ukraine to target high-value strategic objects deep within Russian territory, avoiding the dependency on Western deliveries of long-range missiles to carry out deep strikes against Russian rear positions. The ability to produce such weaponry domestically on a large scale enables Ukraine to independently strike Russian strategic targets such as command centers, ammunition depots, air bases, telecommunications hubs, and rail and transport infrastructure. This capability often slows down Russian military efforts, forcing the relocation of assets, and disrupting the Russian logistic efforts.Secondly, the improved Long Neptune is a flagship project that positions Ukraine’s military industry as a global player in advanced weapon development. Countries like Romania and Estonia have already expressed interest in co-developing and buying future Neptune variants, motivated by their desire to secure their interests in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea coasts. It is important to note that Indonesia was the first purchaser of the original Neptune missile, and the success of this enhanced version will undoubtedly bolster Ukraine’s industrial and innovation position as a global weapon supplier.Lastly, together with other Western-supplied long-range weaponry, the Long Neptune complements and expands the range of Ukrainian capabilities, improving the success rate of their attacks. While Russian air defense capabilities are severely overstretched as they attempt to cover both the front line and strategic assets in the rear, these systems remain highly advanced, forcing the Ukrainians to develop sophisticated attack configurations. These configurations often involve complex trajectory planning, diversionary actions and the use of a variety of weapons, including…