Ways to modernize the anti-ship missile "Neptune"
About a year ago, the coastal missile system RK-360MTS "Neptune" with the anti-ship missile of the same name was adopted by the Ukrainian army. Then the serial production of such equipment was launched, and the first samples were recently shown publicly. Meanwhile, plans are being made for the further development of the complex - but it is already facing serious problems.
Plans and difficulties
On September 6, the Ukrainian edition of "Text" published an interview with Oleg Korostelev, the general director of the State Kiev Design Bureau "Luch". The head of the company spoke about the current work, tasks and emerging difficulties. One of the main topics of conversation was the Neptune anti-ship missile system and the ways of its further development.
The head of the design bureau said that the Neptune complex can be made in three versions, differing in the basing methods. So, the development of a shipborne missile system has begun. It takes about two years to create it. Also in the tactical and technical assignment, the airborne version is spelled out. However, work on this project has not yet begun due to the lack of an order.
There is a possibility of upgrading the missile with new combat capabilities. The anti-ship "Neptune" can become a cruise missile with a low-altitude flight profile, designed to destroy ground targets. The product has all the necessary technical features, but the launch of such a project is possible only if the requirements of the army are present.
The development organization is negotiating the first export contracts for the supply of Neptune. The complex is said to have attracted the attention of Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and several other countries. However, there are no real orders yet - and the timing of their appearance has not been named.
Thus, a specific situation is developing around "Neptune". In the terms of reference, several versions of the missile system are spelled out, but not all are being developed - due to the lack of an order from the army. Also, some new projects don't make much sense. For example, the Ukrainian Navy simply does not have ships that could carry the naval version of the RK-360MTS.
Unlicensed copy
It should be recalled that the Neptune rocket has a very interesting origin. In the eighties of the last century, several enterprises of the Ukrainian SSR were involved in work on a promising universal anti-ship missile system X-35. They had to produce separate components, for which they received the necessary technical documentation.
Test launch of "Neptune", January 2018 Photo of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
The Kh-35 anti-ship missile system was created as a universal weaponscompatible with different media. At first, the Uranus ship complex and the Bal coastal complex were created with its use. Later developed two aviation modification of the rocket, for use by aircraft and helicopters.
As it turned out, after gaining independence, the documentation and some groundwork, despite the known difficulties, were preserved. In 2014, it formed the basis for the future project "Neptune". At the same time, an interesting task was set before the Luch State Design Bureau and related enterprises. They had to create a copy of the X-35 rocket, built on the basis of Ukrainian or available imported units. With the same restrictions, other components of the missile system had to be developed.
The tactical and technical assignment for the Neptune anti-ship missile system stipulated the need to create several modifications for different carriers. The coastal complex RK-360MTS appeared first, and then it was planned to create new versions of missiles and other equipment for installation on ships and aircraft.
In 2018-20. complex "Neptune" has passed firing tests and, allegedly, confirmed the design characteristics. Thus, the main design task of "localizing" the old X-35 missile was accomplished. Ukraine managed to create an analogue of the Soviet product developed in the mid-eighties. In light of the constant problems and failures, even this can be considered a real success.
New opportunities
Recent ones news indicate that the Luch bureau is not going to be satisfied with what has already been achieved and wants to continue the development of the Neptune project. At the same time, the ways of further modernization of the product and the determined goals again make us recall the old Soviet project. The Kh-35 missile can be used on water, on land and in the air - and they want to get the same results in Luch. However, a fundamentally new task is also being posed.
In general, the Ukrainian industry has reason for optimistic assessments and forecasts regarding new modifications of Neptune. The forces of several enterprises managed to copy or create anew the most complex elements of the X-35 and the coastal missile system. Further adaptation of the Neptune anti-ship missile system for new missions is likely to be less complicated and time-consuming.
Launch of the X-35 by the Ball complex of the Baltic coastal forces fleet... Photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Recall that all modifications of the Kh-35 missile have the highest possible degree of unification. They are built in a common hull, equipped with a single propulsion engine, common systems, guidance tools, etc. The differences mainly boil down to the presence or absence of a starting solid-fuel engine, as well as to various features of the onboard hardware and software. Missile carriers, from ships to helicopters, also use unified hardware.
Apparently, "Neptune" will develop in the same ways as our X-35 in the distant past. In the Soviet / Russian project, they will spy on the main approaches and technical solutions, but implement them using the available components. At the same time, a number of key units and products are already available, and it is necessary to develop only individual samples and programs.
The existing coastal modification of the "Neptune" is equipped with a starting engine. After appropriate modifications, it can be integrated into the armament of a warship. By removing the starter engine and some other modifications, the rocket is converted into an aircraft one intended for use by aircraft. It should also be recalled that the Russian X-35V helicopter retains a solid-propellant engine for initial acceleration.
The proposal to convert the Neptune anti-ship missile system into a weapon for attacking ground targets is of interest, but its implementation will be quite difficult. First of all, it will be necessary to rework or create anew ARGSN, autopilot and other devices. The fact is that the anti-ship missile is flying over the flat surface of the sea, and there is virtually no serious interference. All this reduces the requirements for onboard equipment.
The launcher of the Uranus complex aboard the Yaroslav the Wise patrol boat, pr. 11540. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
A rocket reaching a ground target at low altitude encounters a number of inherent difficulties. It must bend around the terrain and avoid obstacles that arise. At the same time, target detection and tracking is complicated by the presence of background and other objects. Whether Luch and other enterprises will be able to create a GOS and an autopilot with all the necessary capabilities is a big question.
Wishes and opportunities
Within the framework of the Neptune project, Ukrainian enterprises have shown their ability to use the available documentation and available units, as well as copy other people's solutions and create separate components. All this gives them reasons for optimism and allows them to make plans for further modernization of the missile complex, aimed at solving important problems.
However, the real prospects of all these plans remain questionable due to organizational, financial and other problems. As it turned out, despite the presence of a tactical and technical assignment, the Ministry of Defense simply did not order the full development of new missile systems. Moreover, there are doubts about the advisability of such an order. The state of the Ukrainian Air Force and Navy leaves much to be desired, and finding suitable platforms for the Neptune will be at least difficult.
Receiving an order and successful design work does not guarantee success either. Serial production of coastal complexes RK-360MTS is already facing noticeable problems. The same may happen in the future with the production of other variants of the complex, its components and carriers.
Thus, despite all the assurances from the industry, the emergence of a whole family of missile systems of various bases based on the Neptune anti-ship missile system is unlikely. The main and, perhaps, the only customer does not show real interest in such projects - and without this they will not be able to move beyond general proposals. However, the inability of modern Ukraine to obtain even obsolete missiles should be considered a positive factor.
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