On August 17, Ukraine introduced its latest long-range cruise missile, the FP-5 “Flamingo”, a weapon that has quickly drawn global attention as a potential game-changer in its defense strategy against Russia.
The FP-5 is now the largest and most powerful missile system ever developed by Ukraine. Unlike earlier Ukrainian drones and small cruise missiles, the Flamingo carries a Motor Sich AI-25TL turbofan engine—the same engine used in Aero L-39 trainer jets—enabling it to reach a range of up to 3,000 kilometers. For comparison, its design, featuring a top-mounted engine, somewhat resembles Germany’s WWII-era V-1 flying bomb, though the Flamingo’s modern propulsion system puts it in an entirely different class.
The missile can fly at speeds close to 950 km/h, though its cruising pace is slightly slower. Guided by GPS-assisted inertial navigation, it maintains a reported accuracy of around 14 meters. While it lacks advanced guidance technologies like terrain-matching or infrared seekers, this simpler design allows for easier and faster production.
Currently, Ukrainian defense manufacturer Fire Point is producing about one missile per day—roughly 30 per month. The company projects a massive scale-up, potentially reaching 200 missiles per month (2,500 annually) by year’s end, though this depends heavily on the availability of turbofan engines. Even at a steady output of 30–50 missiles monthly, Ukraine would maintain a formidable arsenal.
The FP-5 Flamingo offers two major battlefield advantages:
- Penetration power – Its speed and mass allow it to break through fortified targets before detonation.
- Destructive force – Equipped with a 1,000+ kg warhead, it can devastate both hardened military sites and strategic infrastructure such as oil facilities.
Beyond its immediate role in Ukraine’s defense, the Flamingo could serve as a long-term deterrent. A large stockpile of such missiles would significantly raise the cost of any future aggression from Russia, potentially reshaping the balance of power in post-war Europe.
In short, Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo is more than just a weapon for today’s conflict—it may become a strategic safeguard for the country’s future security.
