Since the start of Russian aggression back in 2014, Ukraine has been greenlighting new military projects and relaunching those suspended for years and even decades – everything from gear and firearms to cruise missiles. Of the $3bn budget for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in 2018, one-fifth was due to go on new weaponry and technology. Here we publish the latest updates on the most significant domestic military projects.
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Bars-8MMK mobile mortar complex
The Bars-8MMK is a mobile mortar complex on the Bars-8 armored vehicle chassis equipped with a 120-mm mortar 2B11, and has an operational range of up to 7.2km. The complex can carry 60 shells. It takes 30 or 60 seconds to bring the complex to combat readiness, and only 20 seconds to leave the position after the final shot. The Bars-8MMK was designed for an effective counter-battery fire and is equipped with a firing control system.
1L221E mobile weapon locating system
The 1L221E is a counter-battery radar system which is currently being developed by one of the subsidiaries of UkrOboronProm, the giant state-owned defense conglomerate. The system will be capable of precisely locating enemy artillery weapons, identifying the projectile type (shells, rockets), and tracking the trajectory of the incoming threat. Another feature of the system is tracking the airspace to fix the unmanned aerial aircraft.
Vilkha MLRS with guided missiles
Vilkha is a rocket complex with 300mm guided ammunition developed by the Luch State Kyiv Design Bureau. The complex was made on the basis of the BM-30 Smerch multiple-launch rocket system.
The Ukrainian Army has put it into service after successful state testing in December 2017 and April 2018, and now Vilkha is awaiting serial production. According to the Cabinet, the AFU units will receive new rockets in mid-2019.
Hrim-2 ballistic missile system
Hrim-2 (also known as Sapsan) is a perspective mobile short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile system. Its rockets are being developed by Yuzhnoye Design Office, and Makarov Southern Machine-Building Plant is developing the chassis. The new missile's operational distance ranges from 50 to 280 km with the possibility of upgrades to up to 500 km. The rocket can carry a 500kg warhead.
Neptun
Neptun is the first Ukrainian anti-ship cruise missile. Its design is based on the Soviet-designed Kh-35 turbojet subsonic missile, but Luch Design Bureau has fully replaced its avionics and, as experts suggest, updated the engines. While Luch has not disclosed Neptun's exact specifications, they should match or be close to the original and Russia-upgraded Kh-35: an operational range of 130-300 km, 145-kg warhead, Mach 0.8–Mach 0.95 speed (980–1,164 km/h).
Neptun's test launch in August 2018 in Odesa Oblast. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov said that the rocket successfully hit a maritime target 100 km away.
Among other updates are the reports that Ukraine has started producing artillery barrels, testing its loitering munition, developing new sea boats to strengthen the navy, and the Antonov Design Bureau known for its cargo planes is busy with creating a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle - a 24x33-meter drone, capable of carrying 1400kg of payload.
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