Ukraine has unveiled a new version of its domestically produced Neptune missile, the same weapon used to sink Russia’s Black Sea fleet flagship, the Moskva in April 2022, with a redesigned airframe, a significantly expanded range of up to 1,000 km and a bigger payload.

The updated missile was shown for the first time in a promotional video released by Ukrainian defence manufacturer Zbroya on August 25 to mark the country’s Independence Day. Displayed alongside other indigenous systems including the Bohdana howitzer and naval drones, the full-body footage reveals a visibly enlarged design compared to the original Neptune, The Kyiv Post reports.

Ukraine has rapidly upgraded its missile capacities this year as the drone war gives way to a missile war with Russia. Drones have dominated the fighting since the start of 2023, but recently Russia has increased its barrage of Ukraine using missiles four-fold. Ukraine has responded by developing its first long-range cruise missile, the Flamingo that has a range of 3,000km and carries around 1,250kg of explosive – ten-times more than regular drones. Currently, Ukraine is producing a reported seven Flamingos a month, approximately a tenth of Russia’s missile output.

Previously, Kyiv developed and tested its the Palyanytsia cruise missile that has a range of approximately 600-700 km, allowing it to target Russian military airfields. The Palyanytsia is a hybrid between a missile and a drone, which makes it unique and hard for Russian defences to counter but carries a much smaller payload. Despite the hype surrounding its introduction, the Palyanytsia does not seem to be in serial production and has not played an important role on the battlefield.

The Flamingo, on the other hand, could significantly shift the balance of power in Ukraine’s favour. Kyiv’s allies have been reluctant to supply Ukraine with powerful long-range missiles for fear of provoking a direct conflict between Nato and Russia. Last week, US Secretary for Defence Pete Hegseth introduced new restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US-supplied missiles, which all rely on US satellite data for navigation. However, there are no such restrictions on the use of Ukraine’s home-made missiles, which Kyiv has been using to target Russian refineries in particular and has caused a growing fuel crisis in Russia after refining throughput has been reduced by an estimated 10% in recent months.

Neptune specs

According to Ukrainian defence news outlet Militarnyi, the updated Neptune's larger body likely houses a bigger warhead and additional fuel capacity, giving it an extended operational range. “The missile shown in the video has a larger body, which would explain the updated missile’s stated range of 1,000 km,” Militarnyi reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed in March 2025 that the Neptune upgrade had increased the system’s range from the 300km listed in a 2020 brochure to 1,000 km, The Kyiv Post reports. The missile was likely used in a long-range Ukrainian strike on the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk in May, a target located over 750km from launch points in Ukraine.

Ukraine has struck at least eight Russian refineries in August alone as well as the Druzhba oil pipeline that carries Russian oil from Siberia to Budapest and is now out of action for at least five days.

Defence analysts cited by Militarnyi suggest the enhancements may also include a new guidance system or terminal-phase targeting features such as an infrared homing sensor. Upgrade plans dating from 2023 included proposals to boost the warhead size from 150 kg to 350 kg, though the final specifications have not been disclosed, The Kyiv Post reports. The revised design also features larger stabilising fins, which may improve both range and in-flight manoeuvrability.

Initially developed as an anti-ship missile, the Neptune has since been adapted for land-attack missions, as Ukraine starts to expand its missile capabilities.