The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine plans to sign a contract with the State Kyiv Design Bureau Luch on the production of another battalion of Neptune coastal missile system, Militarnyi reports. This information was announced in an interview with Apostrophe TV channel (Security Talks project) by the company’s CEO Oleg Korostelov. According to him, the agreement is planned to be signed by the end of 2021.
According to Korostelov, the Ukrainian industry is capable of producing three RK-360MTs Neptune battalions and missiles for them annually: «Moreover, we have already reached production cooperation and interaction. It was necessary to set up certain sites for this production. We are actually “breaking in” the production process now and after that our production of serial samples may increase”.
Luch plans to deliver the first operational battalion to the Ministry of Defense in the first quarter of 2022. The head of the company assured that all works are in line with the schedule. Currently, one of the units of the Navy is performing an experimental operation of the system that includes one launcher and special vehicles on KrAZ chassis.