A Ukrainian photojournalist has recently shared an image of a newly developed cruise missile, named Flamingo, which is claimed to have a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles). The missile, said to have begun serial production, was photographed at a factory by Efrem Lukatsky, who works with The Associated Press. The precise production location remains undisclosed, and further details regarding the missile’s capabilities were not provided by Lukatsky. Moreover, the Ukrainian government has yet to confirm the development of the Flamingo missile.
According to reports from Ukrainian media, the Flamingo is believed to be based on an existing missile model, the FP-5, which was developed by the Emirati defense firm Milanion Group. Both the FP-5 and the Flamingo are characterized by fixed wings along with an engine housed atop the fuselage. The FP-5 was first unveiled at the IDEX-2025 expo in the United Arab Emirates and is thought to draw inspiration from the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-141 reconnaissance drone. Notably, Ukraine had utilized the Tu-141, which boasts a range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), during early military operations to target Russian airbases.
In terms of specifications, the Flamingo reportedly has a substantial weight of 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds), which is four times that of the US Tomahawk cruise missile. It carries a warhead weighing 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds) and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 560 kilometers (348 miles) per hour. The missile employs both satellite and inertial guidance systems designed to evade existing air and missile defense mechanisms. Its extended range and significantly heavier payload highlight a notable advancement in Ukraine’s long-range military capabilities.
This development in missile technology symbolizes a leap in Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly in the context of ongoing military conflict. President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked in November 2024 that Ukraine had successfully completed the production of its first 100 missiles. In April of that year, he announced the deployment of a new 600-mile (966-kilometer) cruise missile, an extended-range variant of the Neptune anti-ship missile, further signaling the nation’s commitment to bolstering its arsenal.
