The Armed Forces of Ukraine have taken delivery of a new shipment of Flamingo (FP-5) long-range cruise missiles, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance its deep-strike capabilities. The missiles, produced by domestic defense manufacturer Fire Point, were handed over during a ceremony documented and verified by Associated Press photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky, who also published photographs from the undisclosed location.

The delivery comes amid ongoing criticism regarding the weapon’s development process and performance, particularly from sources influenced by Russian disinformation. Despite this, Ukrainian officials emphasize that the continued production of strategic systems like the Flamingo proves the resilience of Ukraine’s defense industry. Lukatsky noted that, contrary to claims spread by pro-Russian bloggers, Fire Point has successfully transferred yet another batch of functional missiles to the military. This milestone follows President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier announcement confirming successful tests and the start of serial production.

Technically, the Flamingo stands out as one of Ukraine’s most capable long-range strike weapons. Weighing approximately 6,000 kilograms, the FP-5 measures 14 meters in length with a wingspan of 6 meters. It carries a 1,150-kilogram warhead, powered by an Ivchenko AI-25TL turbofan engine, and uses a combination of inertial, GPS, and satellite navigation systems to guide targets with precision. The missile can reach speeds of up to 950 kilometers per hour, fly at 5,000 meters altitude, and strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away. Interestingly, the Flamingo name originated from an early manufacturing flaw that caused the missile’s surface to take on a pink hue.

Fire Point also plays a central role in Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities through its FP-1 first-person-view (FPV) attack drones. According to Lukatsky, these kamikaze drones take part in more than half of Ukraine’s long-range strikes inside Russian territory. The demand for the FP-1 system is reportedly so high that frontline commanders have traveled to Kyiv seeking additional units. Fire Point has previously stated that around 90 percent of the FP-1’s components are domestically produced, with plans to expand production into Europe to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

The latest Flamingo delivery reinforces Ukraine’s strategy of strengthening both its missile arsenal and unmanned systems, ensuring sustained operational capability despite the challenges of a prolonged high-intensity conflict.