Photo: ru.wikipedia.org
Costs for the development of the Ukrainian coastal missile complex ZhK-360MTS “Neptune”, which in Kiev is called “the destroyer of the Crimean bridge” is estimated at $ 40 million. According to the Defense Express, the amount was named by the head of the design office “Luch” Oleg Korostelev.
According to the designer, the costs include the development of communications and weapons. He estimated the same amount for the creation of the Ukrainian medium-range air defense system.
Last year, Korostelev said that Neptune was created in less than three years, despite cuts in funding and the use of predominantly domestic components.
The complex uses an R-360 missile with a launch distance of 280 km and a speed of 900 km/h. One volley of missiles of the complex consists of 24 launches. ships with a displacement of up to 5 thousand tons.
The development was carried out by the company “Luch” on the basis of the vetskaya missile X-35, which was created by the companies of the Ukrainian SSR. It differs from the Soviet prototype “Neptune” by a new control system and a longer shooting range. It is stated that the complex can be used from aircraft and ground launchers.
According to available information, work on creating a new missile has been underway since 2014, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine of Neptune were adopted in 2020.