Key Takeaways:
- Ukraine is producing its own long-range cruise missile, known as the Flamingo, with a range of up to 3,000km.
- The Flamingo missile is designed for deep strikes against Russia and is seen as a critical part of Ukraine’s war effort.
- Ukraine is increasingly trying to target Russia’s war economy to slow its advances, with a focus on long-range strikes against oil refineries, weapons factories, and ammunition dumps.
- Ukraine’s domestic arms industry is ramping up production, with the goal of producing more than 50% of the weapons used on the front line.
- The country is trying to be more self-sufficient in its weapons production, sourcing components from within Ukraine and avoiding parts from countries like China and the US.
Introduction to the Flamingo Missile
The Flamingo missile is a new, long-range Ukrainian cruise missile designed for deep strikes against Russia. With a range of up to 3,000km, it is a significant addition to Ukraine’s military capabilities. The missile is produced in secret factories, with the BBC team being blindfolded before being taken to one of the facilities. The Flamingo missile is painted black, not pink like early prototypes, with the company’s chief technical officer, Iryna Terekh, stating that it is "because it eats Russian oil".
Ukraine’s Arms Industry
Ukraine’s arms industry is ramping up production, with the goal of producing more than 50% of the weapons used on the front line. The country has made significant progress in developing unmanned systems, such as robots and drones, and is now leading the world in this area. The Flamingo missile is just one example of Ukraine’s growing capabilities, with the company Fire Point producing 200 drones a day. The drones have carried out 60% of Ukraine’s long-range strikes, with each drone costing around $50,000, a third of the price of a Russian Shahed drone.
Deep Strikes and Long-Range Capability
The Flamingo missile is the kind of deep-strike weapon that Western nations have been reluctant to supply. However, Ukraine sees deep strikes as a critical part of the war, with the goal of targeting Russia’s war economy and slowing its advances. The head of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, says that Ukraine’s long-range strikes have already cost the Russian economy more than $21.5bn this year. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have carried out hundreds of strikes on oil refineries, weapons factories, and ammunition dumps, with the goal of reducing the enemy’s military capabilities and economic potential.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite Ukraine’s progress in developing its arms industry, the country still faces significant challenges. Russia has been launching around 200 Shahed drones a day, with Ukraine’s response being about half that number. Russia is also targeting civilian infrastructure, including power plants, making life harder for millions of civilians. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces officer, Ruslan, says that the country is scaling up its domestic weapons manufacturing, but it is still limited by its resources. The company Fire Point’s chief designer and co-founder, Denys Shtilerman, admits that there is no "Wunderwaffe" or wonder weapon, but rather the country’s will to win is the game changer.
Self-Sufficiency and International Support
Ukraine is trying to be more self-sufficient in its weapons production, sourcing components from within Ukraine and avoiding parts from countries like China and the US. The company Fire Point’s chief technical officer, Iryna Terekh, says that the country is following the principle that no one can influence the weapons they build. However, Ukraine still needs outside help, not least with intelligence, targeting, and money. The US is no longer Ukraine’s biggest military backer, and Europe has struggled to fill the gap left by America or to match its previous support. Concerns about future US support spill over into talk of future US security guarantees, a key issue in the current peace talks.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The Flamingo missile is a significant development in Ukraine’s war effort, with the country’s domestic arms industry ramping up production and becoming more self-sufficient. However, Ukraine still faces significant challenges, including Russia’s ongoing attacks and the need for international support. The company Fire Point’s chief technical officer, Iryna Terekh, hopes that the rest of Europe will be watching and learning lessons from Ukraine’s experience, and that the country’s example will shock them into action. As the war continues, Ukraine’s ability to develop and produce its own weapons will be crucial to its success, and the Flamingo missile is just one example of the country’s growing capabilities.