New videos show Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missile in test and combat use

Defense Missiles being produced in a Ukrainian factory
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

Ukraine has unveiled new video footage of the long-range Flamingo cruise missile, with the developer Fire Point saying the system is already in serial production. The footage shows test firings and what are described as combat launches against targets inside Russia.

Flamingo cruise missile launcher and design features 

The footage was first released by Ukrainian outlet ZN.UA after an interview with Fire Point. According to the company, the missile was built around three priorities: range, warhead mass, and rapid deployment. Fire Point claims Flamingo has a range of more than 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles), a warhead weighing 1,150 kilograms (2,535 pounds), and resistance to electronic warfare. Production is reportedly underway at a protected facility in the Carpathians.

 

The Flamingo is a ramp-launched cruise missile mounted on a twin-axle trailer. Its design features a dorsal air intake for a jet engine and an X-tail. Launch footage shows a solid-fuel booster providing initial thrust before detaching, with the turbofan sustaining flight. 

Strategic significance for Ukraine 

The video’s release came a day after AP photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky published a workshop photo of two Flamingo missiles at a Fire Point site. The reporter also cited claims of serial production and a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers (1,850 miles). 

Asked about Flamingo on August 18, 2025, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said powerful long-range Ukrainian weapons exist but declined to give details, adding that more information would follow. 

 

If the performance claims prove accurate, Flamingo would markedly extend Ukraine’s ability to hit strategic-depth targets across Russia’s defense-industrial base. It would complement long-range drones and extended-range Neptune missiles already in use, while delivering a heavier single-shot effect against hardened or high-value sites. 

Comparison to Milanion’s FP-5 missile 

Analysts have highlighted Flamingo’s strong resemblance to the FP-5 cruise missile unveiled by the UK-based Milanion Group at IDEX 2025. The FP-5’s published data lists a similar 3,000-kilometer range, ~1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) payload, 6-meter (19-feet) wingspan, high-subsonic speed, and GPS/INS guidance. The similarity suggests a comparable mission profile, though Ukraine has not confirmed any technical crossover between the two systems. 

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