A Ukrainian start-up, Fire Point, is significantly bolstering Kyiv's deep strike capabilities by manufacturing approximately 100 long-range Flamingo cruise missiles and thousands of drones each month. This surge in production, which includes FP-1 and FP-2 fixed-wing drones, marks a crucial development in Ukraine's ongoing conflict and its ability to target strategic locations hundreds of miles within Russia.
According to Iryna Terekh, Fire Point's chief executive, the company's products have been involved in nearly all recent deep strike attacks, which occur at a daily rate of between five and 15. The Flamingo missiles, capable of carrying a 1,150kg explosive payload, were notably used in a June attack on a Russian military components factory in Cheboksary, over 600 miles from Kharkiv. These missiles have achieved some of the longest recorded flight distances for cruise missile missions, reaching around 1,800km due to complex flight paths. At a cost of just under $600,000 each, they present a more economical alternative to Western equivalents like the US Tomahawk missile.
The lighter FP-1 drones, with a range exceeding 1,000 miles, have been deployed in a campaign targeting less-defended Russian oil refineries. This campaign has reportedly reduced Russia's oil production by 20%, leading to fuel queues. These drones are priced between $55,000 and $75,000. The company's operations have expanded considerably, now encompassing 83 factories within Ukraine and one in Denmark, employing 6,000 people, up from 3,500 late last year.
This rapid maturation of Ukraine's homegrown defence industry, founded in 2022, is providing its military with long-range capabilities that were initially withheld by Western allies. Former US Army in Europe general, Ben Hodges, noted that Ukraine can now not only reach deep inside Russia with precision, bypassing air defences, but their weapons also carry a substantial payload. This evolution is narrowing the gap with Russia's long-range attack capabilities, as Moscow reportedly produces up to 70 air-launched Kh-101 cruise missiles, 25 sea-launched Kalibrs, and 60 Iskander M ballistic missiles monthly.
Looking ahead, Fire Point is also developing Ukraine's first ballistic missiles, with initial launches anticipated by the end of 2026. Additionally, a variant of their short-range FP-7 drone will form the basis of the Freyja initiative, an international effort involving Ukraine and nine other European countries to create an alternative air defence system to the US Patriot. Fire Point will produce the launchers and interceptors for this system, with a target cost of $1 million per interceptor. The technology for this new air defence system is hoped to be first tested by July 2027.