New Areion Missile-Drones to Be Launched From Neptune Missile Launchers

The launcher of the Ukrainian Neptune missile system has been adapted for the use of new Areion missile-drones.

This became known from open tactical and technical characteristics presented at an exhibition during a briefing by a Foreign Ministry spokesman, which the Militarnyi’s correspondent reviewed.

The state enterprise Luch Design Bureau developed and manufactured the missile-drone.

Areion is supplied in a transport-launch container and can be launched from a standard self-propelled launcher of the Neptune missile system.

At the same time, Areion can also be launched from a universal trailer or semi-trailer.

The Areion missile-drone was developed based on the Palyanytsia system to strike targets deep in enemy territory.

“Designed to destroy coastal infrastructure, as well as high-priority stationary targets deep in enemy territory in conditions of electronic warfare,” the specifications state.

The declared range is 600 kilometers, and the warhead weighs 100 to 120 kilograms.

The missile-drone can fly at an altitude of 20 meters.

This allows it to bypass air defenses, whose effectiveness against low-altitude targets is limited.

It is known that in the Palyanytsia system, navigation and terminal targeting are executed using a combination of an inertial system resistant to electronic warfare and satellite navigation for course correction.

Last year, the Ukrainian Navy started using a modified Neptune launcher mounted on a Tatra chassis.