A Ukrainian defense company, Fire Point, has announced significant progress in the development of a domestically engineered jet engine intended for integration into its flagship F-5 Flamingo cruise missile. This new engine aims to replace the previously utilized aviation engines and is designed specifically to enhance the missile’s performance at low altitudes.
Chief Designer and Co-Founder Denys Shtilerman highlighted that current engines, which were originally sourced from civil aviation, operate most efficiently at altitudes between 6,000 and 10,000 meters (approximately 19,685 to 32,808 feet). As a result, their effectiveness diminishes at sea level, which is a critical concern for cruise missile operations.
In the past, Fire Point equipped the F-5 Flamingo missile with Ukrainian-made Ivchenko AI-25 or AI-25TL engines. While these engines provided better efficiency than the standard single-flow engines typically used in cruise missiles, Fire Point had to discreetly source used units through intermediaries to maintain early production levels. This strategic maneuver allowed the company to manufacture about three missiles daily.
Looking ahead, Fire Point is finalizing the new low-bypass turbojet engine, which is expected to streamline production significantly once it enters service. Additionally, the company has localized most of the engine’s assembly process, further bolstering Ukraine’s defense industrial capabilities. According to Shtilerman, the company anticipates it will be able to fulfill orders for Missiles efficiently once the new engine is operational.
The F-5 Flamingo missile, a ground-launched weapon, measures 14 meters (46 feet) in length and weighs 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds). It features a wingspan of 6 meters (20 feet) and houses a powerful 1,150-kilogram (2,535-pound) warhead. The missile is equipped with a sophisticated inertial navigation system and GPS components, ensuring high precision in both flight and targeting.
With the original Ivchenko engine, the F-5 Flamingo can reach a maximum speed of 950 kilometers (590 miles) per hour, an altitude of up to 5,000 meters (16,404 feet), and a combat range of 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles). The missile’s name, “Flamingo,” ironically derives from an early manufacturing error that resulted in its exterior appearing pink.
As the completion of the new engine nears, Fire Point is poised to enhance its production capabilities and strengthen its role in Ukraine’s defense landscape.
