Ukraine has begun deploying the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, a domestically produced weapon that significantly enhances its ability to strike targets deep within Russian territory. The missile, characterized by its distinctive pink prototypes and constructed with engines sourced from decommissioned aircraft, offers a substantial upgrade in Ukraine's long-range precision strike capabilities.
The Flamingo missile measures 45 feet in length with a 20-foot wingspan, weighing six metric tonnes and carrying a one-tonne warhead. It can achieve speeds of up to 600 mph and has an estimated range of 1,900 miles, placing much of western Russia within its striking distance. This range surpasses that of Western-supplied missiles such as the ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and Scalp.
The missile's cost is approximately $500,000 per unit, a fraction of the cost of comparable Western weapons. Its power comes from Ivchenko AI-25TL engines, originally designed for Soviet training aircraft, which Ukraine has acquired at a low cost from landfill sites. The missile's body is constructed from carbon fiber strands, allowing for rapid assembly. The manufacturer, Fire Point, is reportedly producing three Flamingo missiles per day, with plans to increase output to seven daily.
Ukraine's first use of the Flamingo missile was in late August 2025, targeting an outpost in Crimea. Subsequent strikes in September 2025 hit a factory in Belgorod producing components for Russian fighter jets. In October, reported attacks targeted a facility that was unclear and another that was apparently shot down. Further strikes in November against the Oryol power plant saw missiles launched, but all were reportedly shot down. The pattern of use has shown strikes progressing further into Russian territory over the months.
By February 2026, strikes were recorded over 800 miles from the front lines, damaging the Kotlaban ammunition storage and the Votkinsk missile factory. A March 2026 strike targeted the Chebyevsk ammunition factory, with mixed results. The most recent reported strike occurred in May 2026, targeting the Cheboksari factory that manufactures navigation components for Russian military vehicles.
Analysts suggest the Flamingo missile fills a critical gap in Ukraine's arsenal, providing a long-range, precision strike capability that allows for reciprocal attacks on Russian military and industrial infrastructure. This development marks a shift, potentially reducing Russia's ability to conduct missile strikes with impunity.