Ukraine’s Newest Homemade Missile Hits Russia’s Oldest Ship
The disparity between the two sides cannot be more clear with this hit
Earlier this month, a delegation led by Jane Harman, Chair of the United States Commission on the National Defense Strategy, returned from Ukraine with significant news. They revealed to the world that Ukraine has achieved a remarkable milestone in its emerging missile manufacturing capabilities.
According to the Chair, Ukraine had plans to increase its Neptune missile production tenfold this year and also extend its range to 1,000 kilometers. Barely two weeks had passed since the information about the expanded range of Ukraine’s Neptune missile was made public. Two days ago Ukraine deployed its newest weapon to destroy Russia’s oldest ship docked in Sevastopol, Crimea.
Ukraine successully hit the Russian ship Kommuna. It was launched in 1911 and originally served as a repair and salvage vessel for the Imperial Russian Navy.
The Kommuna is known for its longevity, making it one of the oldest vessels in service in the Russian Navy. Over its life time, the ship had undergone several modifications and upgrades to maintain its operational capabilities.
As a diving support vessel, the Kommuna is equipped with specialized equipment and facilities to support underwater operations, such as salvage, repair, and maintenance. It has participated in numerous missions, including the recovery of sunken ships, submarines, and other marine assets.
The Kommuna is one of a kind a ship. It is capable of operating in deep waters, making it an important asset for rescuing submarines or retrieving sunken equipment at significant depths. When Russia’s flaghip crusier Moskva went down on April 13th, 2022, the Russians used Kommuna to recover weapons, bodies, and other sensitive material from the ship.
The Kommuna’s ability to assist submarines is crucial for the Black Sea Fleet. It could be used for rescuing submarines with technical problems or raising sunken ones.
The Ukrainian attack on the Kommuna, which left the ship damaged, will significantly hinder Russia’s ability to perform such salvage operations in the Black Sea. It is still not very clear how extensive the damage is. The ship did not sink, and there is a good probability that the Russians will try to fix it as quickly as possible.
But until the Russians fix it, their submarines must sail into the Black Sea with the awareness that there may never be a rescue mission if they need one. It is breathtaking to imagine that the overlords in the Russian navy still dare to keep such important ships docked in the Sevastopol naval base. Ukraine has been targeting this base repeatedly, using long range British Storm Shadow or the French SCALP missiles.
This marks the first instance of Ukraine using its newly upgraded long-range Neptune missiles to target a ship docked in the Sevastopol naval base. The distance of Sevastopol, Crimea, from the frontline, more than 250 kilometers, demonstrates that Ukraine now possesses a homemade weapon that can be launched from the ground, earning it the classification of a long-range weapon.
Neptune Missile: Characteristics
- Type: Anti-ship cruise missile
- Manufacturer: Luch Design Bureau, Ukraine
- Range: 280 kms. Now upgraded to 1,000 kms
- Speed: Subsonic
- Guidance System: Active radar homing
The Neptune missiles can be launched from truck-based mobile launchers. You can observe Ukraine test-firing the Neptune missile from a ground-based launcher in the attached image from 2019.
This is a huge freaking deal.
Ukraine’s neptune missiles had always been effective. They did bring down the Russian flagship cruiser, Moskva, which should have had proper protection against missiles. However, the Neptunes found their way through. Yet, the range, less than 200 kilometers, and meagre production capacity did not allow Ukraine to fully utilize the weapon as a significant asset on the battlefield.
That is poised to change very soon. If the production capacity is set to increase, then Ukraine may possess a homemade weapon it can deploy against the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which is currently stationed in Novorossiya. This naval base is located at the easternmost end of the Black Sea and is far from the frontline, making it a secure base. The distance from the frontline is around 350 kilometers, rendering it beyond the reach of Ukraine’s long-range Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of less than 300 kilometers.
The Russian navy fled from Sevastopol, Crimea, after relentless pursuit by Ukraine, which utilized its long-range British and French missiles. Now, Ukraine has their own subsonic missiles, specifically designed to target naval ships.
The combination of a high-explosive warhead specifically designed to penetrate the thick armor of warships, a low-altitude flight path, active radar homing, and mobility provided by ground-based launch vehicles makes the Neptune a significant threat to Russian warships.
I think we will soon hear them flying towards the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk. My mind quickly turned to the Kerch bridge as soon as it became clear that Ukraine has a ground-launched missile capable of reaching beyond 250 kilometers. The utility of that bridge has already diminished significantly. It is not worth as much today as it was last year.
Do Ukrainians want to bring that bridge down? Maybe.
Do they absolutely need to bring it down to improve their fortunes on the battlefield? Not anymore.
The Growth and Growth of Ukraine’s Defense Manufacturing Industry
One of Putin’s stated objectives was to demilitarize Ukraine. Instead of disarming them and turning them into a defenseless puppet state, he has ignited a fire under their belly. Ukraine is still dependent on Western allies to supply weapons, but in the last two years, they have also allocated a significant amount of resources to develop their defense manufacturing industry.
They are the world’s leading drone manufacturer, both in terms of quantity and quality. Transitioning from operating second and third-generation Soviet jets, they will soon be flying fourth-generation Western fighter jets. They have developed a cruise missile capable of hitting targets at 1,000 kilometers. They know how to handle the Patriots as both a defensive and mobile offensive weapon. They are employing the age-old S200 air defense system to shoot down Russia’s strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft such as the A-50 MAINSTAY flying deep inside enemy territory.
So, Ukraine is not only manufacturing weapons on their own and equipping its army with Western-supplied weapons, but they are also advancing in terms of technological know-how. This is an extremely valuable asset that will make them even more formidable opponents for the Russians if they ever attempt to invade again in the future.
This story is in the public domain, free for everyone to read.
