In the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Kyiv has unveiled a potent new weapon that can significantly alter the dynamics of deep-strike operations.
The FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile, developed domestically by the Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point, made its combat debut on August 30, 2025, targeting a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) outpost in occupied Crimea. This strike, which destroyed the main building, damaged six hovercraft, and resulted in one Russian serviceman killed and several injured, marks a milestone in Ukraine’s push to enhance its long-range capabilities amid ongoing Western restrictions on using supplied weapons for strikes deep inside Russia.
With a reported range of 3,000 kilometers and a warhead exceeding one tonne, the Flamingo positions Ukraine to threaten critical Russian infrastructure far beyond the front lines, potentially disrupting Moscow’s war economy and military logistics.
The FP-5 Flamingo represents a rapid advancement in Ukraine’s indigenous arms production, spurred by the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Fire Point, a company founded by professionals from non-military fields like construction, game design and architecture, achieved serial production in just nine months – a timeline that stunned Ukrainian officials overseeing the project.
The missile was publicly announced on August 18, 2025, following a test launch at a concealed facility in southern Ukraine. Its distinctive pink hue, stemming from a factory paint error, earned it the “Flamingo” moniker, which has since been embraced by operators and media alike.
Technically, the Flamingo is a ground-launched cruise missile designed for high-impact, long-distance strikes.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mass | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
| Length | 12–14 m (39–46 ft); some estimates suggest 10–12 m |
| Wingspan | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Warhead Weight | 1,150 kg (2,540 lb), potentially repurposed from aerial bombs like the Mk 84 or BLU-109/B bunker buster |
| Engine | AI-25TL turbofan (historically used in Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft), with solid fuel booster and liquid fuel for sustained flight |
| Range | 3,000 km (1,900 mi) |
| Speed | Maximum 950 km/h; cruise 850–900 km/h |
| Flight Ceiling | 5,000 m (16,000 ft) |
| Accuracy | Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 14 m in ideal conditions |
| Guidance | Primary GPS/GNSS with inertial navigation system (INS) backup; jamming-resistant antenna; lacks advanced terrain contour matching (TERCOM) or digital scene-matching area correlator (DSMAC) |
| Materials | Radar-transparent fiberglass fuselage; metal engine nacelle for heat resistance |
These features make the Flamingo a heavyweight in its class, with a fuselage constructed from composite materials to reduce radar visibility. Production began in mid-2025 at an initial rate of 30 units per month, with plans to scale up to 210 per month by October 2025, aiming for a steady output of 200 missiles monthly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed it as “the most successful missile we have,” emphasizing its role in bolstering national defense.
The Flamingo’s standout attribute is its extended range – roughly double the unclassified range of the U.S. Tomahawk Block V cruise missile – enabling strikes across European Russia, potentially as far as Novosibirsk. Its warhead, 2.5 times heavier than the Tomahawk’s, is optimized for targeting high-value assets such as oil refineries, energy infrastructure, military production facilities, weapons depots, command centers, and strategic bridges. This capability threatens up to 90% of Russia’s arms manufacturing capacity, according to Ukrainian assessments.
In its first operational deployment on August 30, 2025, three Flamingo missiles were launched at dawn toward the FSB outpost near Armyansk in northern Crimea. Footage released by Ukrainian sources shows the missiles ascending, though the exact launch site remains undisclosed. The attack caused significant structural damage, with Russian outlet Astra initially misattributing it to Neptune missiles. World media described the weapon as “very powerful,” while Zelensky confirmed plans for continued deep strikes, signaling an enhancing of the Ukraine’s offensive strategy.
Comparatively, the Flamingo outperforms Western-supplied systems like the Storm Shadow or Taurus in range and payload, though it lacks their sophisticated visual guidance, relying instead on satellite navigation that could be vulnerable to jamming – mitigated by its INS fallback. Flamingo’s potential is to fill gaps left by restrictions on using allied missiles for Russian mainland strikes, offering Ukraine greater autonomy in asymmetric warfare.
The Flamingo’s introduction comes at a critical juncture, as Ukraine seeks to counter Russia’s numerical advantages through precision strikes on rear-echelon targets. By reaching 3,000 km, it places key Russian economic hubs – such as oil facilities and industrial centers – under direct threat, potentially crippling Moscow’s ability to sustain prolonged military operations. This missile could severely damage Russia’s domestic economy, amplifying the effects of Ukraine’s growing arsenal of drones and missiles.
In the broader geopolitical context, the Flamingo’s unveiling amid stalled peace talks may pressure Putin, demonstrating Ukraine’s resilience and innovation despite resource constraints. If production scales as planned, it could enable sustained campaigns against Russian logistics, forcing Moscow to divert air defenses and resources from the front lines.
The FP-5 Flamingo embodies Ukraine’s determination to innovate under duress, transforming a factory mishap into a symbol of defiance. As a deadly power against Russia, it extends Kyiv’s reach, promising to inflict economic and military pain deep within enemy territory. Yet, its success hinges on overcoming production hurdles and electronic countermeasures.
If fully realized, the Flamingo could tip the scales in Ukraine’s favor, underscoring the conflict’s evolution into a war of technological attrition where indigenous ingenuity challenges Russian might. As strikes continue, the world watches to see if this “big pink bird” lives up to its hype.