Ukraine’s war‑time startup Fire Point has pulled the veil off the FP‑5 “Flamingo,” a ground‑launched cruise missile that Kyiv claims can deliver a one‑ton warhead over 3,000 km. With social‑media praise and government fanfare, Flamingo has been touted as the “most successful missile we have,” but the reality behind the headlines is more complex.
US Defense Startups remain missing in action for tactical innovations and the window to secure high-ground in these markets is headed off the radar.
Capabilities
Flamingo is essentially a straight‑winged cruise missile with a six‑metre wingspan, a maximum take‑off weight of roughly six tonnes and a cruising speed of 850‑900 km/h. It uses an AI‑25‑series turbofan—originally designed for the L‑39 trainer—to sustain flight. Its warhead appears to be a repurposed gravity bomb weighing around 1 ,150 kg, making it roughly twice as powerful as a U.S. Tomahawk. Navigation relies on satellite signals with inertial backup rather than sophisticated terrain‑matching cameras. Pre‑launch preparations take 20–40 minutes, and analysts caution that Russian air defences will likely intercept some missiles.
Production ambitions
President Volodymyr Zelensky says Flamingo is the country’s most successful missile and that mass production should begin by late 2025 or early 2026. Fire Point currently produces about one missile per day and aims to ramp up to seven per day—over 2 500 missiles annually—by October. The company deliberately eschews folding wings and containerised launchers to simplify manufacturing and lower costs. Whether Ukraine has the funds and industrial capacity to hit those targets remains unclear.
Operational history
The weapon’s only publicly documented combat use occurred on 30 August 2025, when Ukrainian sources claimed Flamingos hit an FSB outpost in Crimea. Three missiles allegedly struck the facility, damaging six hovercraft and causing at least one fatality. There is no evidence yet that Flamingo has engaged targets at its advertised maximum range.
Controversies
Fire Point’s ties to the UAE‑based Milanion Group—whose FP‑5 missile appears nearly identical to Flamingo—raise questions about licensing and intellectual property. The company is also facing scrutiny at home. An investigation by the Kyiv Independent reported that Ukraine’s anti‑corruption bureau was examining whether Fire Point inflated contracts or misrepresented deliveries. Fire Point acknowledged the probe but dismissed it as rumours; days later, the bureau publicly denied that any investigation was under way. The conflicting statements highlight the opaque nature of Ukraine’s defence start‑ups and the political stakes surrounding them.
Why it matters
If Fire Point can mass‑produce a reliable, jam‑resistant cruise missile with a one‑ton warhead and 3,000 km range, Ukraine would gain the ability to hit oil refineries, arms factories and command centres deep inside Russia. But hype alone doesn’t win wars. Flamingo is a heavy, high‑altitude missile that trades stealth for brute force. Its utility will depend on funding, logistics and whether it can survive modern air defences. Until more combat data emerges, the FP‑5 “Flamingo” remains as much a symbol of Ukraine’s ingenuity and ambition as it is a proven strategic weapon.
