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Ukraine Partners With Storm Shadow Maker MBDA to Develop Its New Neptune-2 Cruise Missile
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s Luch Design Bureau has partnered with European missile manufacturer MBDA, the maker of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, to develop the next-generation Neptune-2 cruise missile under a newly signed memorandum of understanding.
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According to a statement published by MBDA on June 16, the agreement focuses on advancing Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities through continued cooperation on the Neptune missile family. The company said the partnership will combine MBDA’s expertise in missile technologies with Luch’s experience in designing and producing complex weapons systems.
“The agreement will focus on the further development of the Neptune cruise missile. LUCH and MBDA will implement breakthrough innovations to develop deep strike capabilities for Neptune-2, while advancing strategic defence cooperation with Ukraine,” MBDA stated.
MBDA said the partnership reflects its broader support for Ukraine and highlighted the company’s experience in developing long-range precision strike systems. The European defense group is known for producing several missile families, including the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles currently used by Ukraine.
The Ukrainian state-owned Luch Design Bureau is the developer of the Neptune missile system and has been responsible for its design, integration, and production. Originally developed as an anti-ship missile following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, the Neptune gained international attention after being used to sink Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022.
In recent years, Ukraine has expanded the missile’s role beyond maritime targets. A land-attack version, commonly known as the Long Neptune, entered service with significantly extended range and a larger warhead.
Ukrainian officials have stated that the missile can strike targets at distances of up to 1,000 kilometers, compared with approximately 280 kilometers for the original anti-ship variant.
According to previously disclosed specifications, the Long Neptune carries a 260-kilogram warhead and retains compatibility with launch systems used by earlier versions of the missile. The enlarged design incorporates additional fuel capacity, increasing both the missile’s dimensions and operational reach.
Ukrainian forces also used Neptune missiles in strikes on the Atlant Aero facility in Taganrog, which produces Molniya and Orion-series drones, as well as during a broader November 2025 operation that targeted the Beriev Aircraft Company, associated with Russia’s A-50 airborne early warning aircraft and Tu-95 strategic bombers, alongside energy infrastructure in Novorossiysk and Tuapse.
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