Ukraine is moving toward mass production of a new long-range missile system by the end of 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a meeting with journalists on August 20.
The missile, known as “Flamingo,” is designed with a range of 3,000 kilometers and has already undergone successful tests.
Zelensky described the weapon as the most effective among Ukraine’s current arsenal.
“To December we will have more of them. And by the end of December or in January-February, mass production should begin. We must look at the success in testing, we must look at the financing of this program,” he told reporters.
The president emphasized that he could not disclose operational details until Ukraine has hundreds of these missiles available for deployment.
According to Zelensky, the Flamingo system has already proven itself in trials and will soon move into large-scale production.
Associated Press later published a report from inside the manufacturing site where Ukrainian company Fire Point is producing the missile and other unmanned systems. Reporters were given access to a large warehouse, where engineers showcased the company’s FP-1 explosive drones, with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers. For the first time, they also publicly displayed the Flamingo missile.
Fire Point, one of Ukraine’s leading defense enterprises, was established by close friends at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The founders combined expertise from various industries with the aim of producing cost-effective drones capable of rivaling Iranian-made Shahed UAVs that Moscow has deployed extensively in its campaign against Ukrainian cities.
Company representatives told reporters that the Flamingo, formally designated FP-5, can strike targets at a distance of 3,000 kilometers and land within 14 meters of its aim point. With a payload capacity of up to 1,150 kilograms, it is among the largest cruise missiles of its type. The name “Flamingo” was adopted after early versions of the missile were painted pink during testing.
Fire Point currently produces approximately one FP-5 Flamingo per day, but its management expects to increase capacity to seven per day by October. The firm has already completed trials of the FP-5 earlier this year, confirming performance across range and payload delivery.
Zelensky’s remarks underline the importance of domestic production at a time when Ukraine continues to rely on international support for air defense systems and artillery. He framed the missile program as a central element in Ukraine’s long-term defense strategy, with production schedules tied both to successful testing and to the availability of funding.
The Flamingo project, alongside Ukraine’s expanding fleet of long-range drones, represents a growing capability to reach deep into Russian territory. Fire Point’s FP-1 drones have already demonstrated extended-range performance, while the Flamingo missile is expected to provide Ukraine with an additional strategic option once produced at scale.
In his comments, Zelensky noted that the program will remain confidential until the country has built a sufficient stockpile.
“It is the most successful among all Ukrainian weapons that exist now,” he said, stressing that effectiveness and reliability must guide the transition from testing to deployment.