![]() Unless they hit it in exactly the right spot. Such comparatively tiny missiles – about 50 pounds compared to Neptune’s 2,000 pounds – could not do any real damage to a major warship. This is likely just good operational security, but it may be that the missiles are phantoms.Īs Oryx notes, the Bayraktar TB2’s four MAM-L laser-guided missiles can also be used against naval targets, with a range of up to 14 km. Nor do there appear to be any pictures or video of the Neptune batteries in action, or the missiles on their way. A Bayraktar carries four and the Ukrainians say they launched two Neptures.) ![]() Did the Bayraktars fire a wave of small missiles to distract the AK-630s at a critical time? (It is worth noting that the AK-630 fires 400 rounds each time it engages and has a magazine of 2,000 rounds, so can only top five missiles maximum. Russian air defenses have consistently underperformed in this campaign, which may be all the explanation needed. Navy’s 20mm Phalanx rounds rely on impact, the 30mm Russian versions are explosive fragmentation rounds and in theory have a larger kill radius. Any incoming missile should be targeted by at least two weapons, each firing seventy rounds per second. Moskva has six of them positioned to give all-round protection. It is also puzzling that Moskva’s multibarreled, radar-guided AK-630 cannons failed to do their job. The Russians did not release any information, there was no imagery, and the ship has continued its mission as normal. When Ukraine claimed to have hit the warship Admiral Essen with a Neptune on April 4, there was considerable skepticism. However, before the war it seemed highly unlikely that the Neptune missiles would be ready in time, as they were not due to be operational until later this year.
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