Report: Ukraine produced over 100 missiles in 2024
The Ukrainian military industry produced over a hundred missile weapons in 2024.
“Our special production, our strategic industries, our weapons. This year, we were able to achieve significant results in several areas. This includes our Ukrainian artillery – our shells, our guns. This includes drones of various types for various tasks, which not only help the frontline defend its positions and destroy the invader but also strike at Russia at greater depths. We are going to increase this. This year, we have crossed the mark of the first hundred missile weapons,” he said.
According to him, more than 800 companies are currently working on producing weapons for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
“Now, for the first time in more than 30 years of independence, we have not just individual investment steps by our partners in Ukraine but systemic models for investment. In particular, this is the Danish model, which invests and attracts investments in production. We have also agreed with France on a slightly different model involving technology and the construction of relevant production facilities. We also have preliminary agreements with our other partners on localizing weapons production in Ukraine,” the President emphasized.
In early August 2024, it was announced that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had allocated additional funds for the Ukrainian missile program. And in late September, it was reported that Ukraine would spend part of the EU loan funds secured by frozen Russian assets on purchasing domestic long-range missiles and drones.
R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles
Prior to the full-scale invasion, various missile programs were developed and improved in Ukraine. A particularly successful project was the R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missile.
The adaptation of the Neptune anti-ship missile to hit ground targets was first reported in April 2023. A representative of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry told The Drive on condition of anonymity that designers were working on modifying the missile to hit ground targets.
The media reports that the new missile can be launched using the same launcher. It has a maximum range of 400 kilometers and a warhead weighing 350 kilograms (150 kilograms for the anti-ship version).
In addition to the enlarged warhead, according to the publication, the missile also received a new guidance system. A satellite positioning system was installed to guide the missile during the flight’s marching phase. In the final part of the flight, guidance is provided using an infrared homing system.
In December 2023, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, confirmed the information about the modernization of the Neptune missile.
“Now work is underway to create the so-called “long” Neptune. We are talking about a new modification of the missile. Also, active work is underway together with the Ministry of Strategic Industries to strengthen the air defense capabilities,” the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine said.
Since then, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have repeatedly launched Neptune missiles. Publicly known targets included oil terminals, ammunition depots, S-400 air defense systems, and airfields.
Other missile programs
At the end of August 2024, it was publicly reported that Ukraine had successfully tested the first ballistic missile.
“The first Ukrainian ballistic missile was tested, and it was a positive test,” the President of Ukraine shared during Ukraine 2024. Independence forum.
Two weeks earlier, the President announced that Ukraine was approaching the use of Ukrainian-made ballistic missiles, and on August 27, 2024, he officially confirmed the successful test.
In addition to the missile programs created by large state-owned enterprises, Ukraine has also started encouraging private businesses to develop missile technologies. For example, in July 2024, it was reported that a missile program would be launched within the Ukrainian defense technology development cluster Brave1.
“Brave1 has identified more than 2,000 developments. We have issued grants to various companies for almost five million (USD – ed.). We also have a special project, which I won’t discuss yet, but it relates to missile programs. This year, there will be hundreds of grants for companies involved in this area. In fact, we are moving from supporting small startups to supporting these strategic areas of our struggle,” Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation, reported.
