Fire Point Reveals the Cost and True Range of Ukraine's Flamingo Missile – The Guardian
The Ukrainian company Fire Point has released new details about the “Flamingo” long-range missile. According to the developers, the company manufactures about 100 of these missiles each month, and their cost is approximately six times lower than that of the American Tomahawk cruise missile. The company also released information about the actual range of the new weapon.
In addition to missiles, the company produces FP-1 and FP-2 drones at a rate of “hundreds per day.” According to Terekh, strikes using Fire Point products occur on average 5–15 times a day, and production is resuming after a pause caused by a delay in the disbursement of a €90 billion loan from the EU to Ukraine.
Each “Flamingo” missile costs just under $600,000. By comparison, an American Tomahawk is estimated to cost approximately $3.5 million. The “Flamingo” is capable of carrying 1,150 kg of explosives, which is enough to penetrate concrete shelters.
In June, such missiles struck a military components factory in Cheboksary, located more than 950 km from Kharkiv. As the CEO noted, the actual flight range during this strike was about 1,800 km—which, she said, is one of the longest routes in the history of cruise missile use.
The long-range FP-1 drones have a range of over 1,600 km. They are being used against less-protected Russian oil refineries: according to the company’s estimates, this has already reduced fuel production by approximately 20% and caused lines at gas stations. One such drone costs between $55,000 and $75,000.
Fire Point currently operates at 83 plants in Ukraine and one in Denmark, and its workforce has grown to approximately 6,000—up from 3,500 at the end of last year. Terekh herself, who previously studied architecture, joined the company in the summer of 2023, when it had only 18 employees.
Former General Ben Hodges, who previously commanded the U.S. Army in Europe, noted that this is the result of several years of effort by the Ukrainian side: its weapons now reliably reach deep into Russia, bypass air defense systems, and carry a warhead powerful enough to have an impact.
According to Ukrainian estimates, Russia produces up to 70 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 25 “Kalibr” missiles, and about 60 “Iskander-M” ballistic missiles each month. Meanwhile, Fire Point is developing Ukraine’s first ballistic missiles, with launches planned by the end of the year.
The FP-7 missile variant is set to form the basis of a separate initiative called “Freya”—an international alternative to the U.S. Patriot air defense system, in which Ukraine and nine other European countries are participating. Fire Point will manufacture launchers and interceptor missiles with a target price of about $1 million per interceptor; the company hopes to test the technology by July of next year.
“We love the Patriot,” Terekh said, adding that global production capacity cannot keep up with demand, and Ukraine’s own stockpile of such missiles has already been depleted.
Source: The Guardian
As a reminder, Zelenskyy revealed the first details about the “iron dome” that will protect Ukraine and Europe.
The State Audit Service has published the results of its audit of Fire Point’s contracts.
Fire Point is working on developing its own engine for the FP-5 Flamingo missile.
