Ukraine’s new ‘Flamingo’ missiles near battlefield debut

The unusual name and the missile's original color — a bright pink tip where the warhead is housed — were an internal company joke on the unheralded role of women in the male-dominated world of weapons and war.

Ukraine could soon field a new generation of domestically developed missiles, as a defence manufacturer claims two high-speed weapons are nearing operational readiness — potentially giving Kyiv fresh reach deep behind Russian lines.

The missiles, developed by Ukrainian firm Fire Point, are part of a weapons programme designed to break through increasingly dense Russian air defences. If deployed as planned, analysts say the systems could strengthen Ukraine’s long-range strike capability at a critical moment in the war.

A race for speed in the missile war

According to Fire Point executive Denis Shtilerman, the company’s new FP-9 missile has been designed to outrun many existing interception systems. Speaking to Army TV, he said the weapon could exceed speeds of 1,000 metres per second — significantly faster than many missiles currently used in the conflict.

For comparison, Russia’s Iskander missile system travels at roughly 800 metres per second. That speed advantage, developers argue, could make the FP-9 far harder for air defence systems around heavily protected targets such as Moscow to intercept.

Pressure grows as Patriot stocks tighten

The timing is critical. Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly warned that supplies of US-made Patriot missile system interceptors — vital for protecting cities from ballistic attacks — are running dangerously low.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned that shortages could soon weaken the country’s ability to defend key infrastructure. New domestic weapons, officials say, may help offset those vulnerabilities by shifting pressure back onto Russian targets.

Shtilerman also claimed the FP-9 could carry a larger warhead than the US-supplied ATACMS missile while costing roughly two and a half times less to produce.

A second missile waits in the wings

Alongside the FP-9, Fire Point is developing the FP-7 — a missile expected to reach targets up to 300 kilometres away. The company hopes it could enter service later this summer if final testing proceeds as planned.

If successful, the system would give Ukrainian forces another option for striking logistics hubs, command posts and ammunition depots beyond the immediate front line.

Drones roll off the line as production surges

Missiles are only part of the strategy. Fire Point says it is already producing around 200 long-range drones every day — and could quickly double or even triple that output if required.

One model, the FP-1, can fly up to 1,000 kilometres carrying a 105-kilogram warhead. Another, the FP-2, is designed for strikes up to 200 kilometres from the front — and will soon carry a heavier payload.

In a war increasingly defined by range, speed and production capacity, Kyiv is racing to ensure it can still hit back.

Ukraine may soon field new missiles from fire point