Ukraine’s defense industry is rapidly expanding its capabilities, producing an increasing number of long-range missiles and drones to target locations deep within Russia, according to industry leaders. Fire Point, a Ukrainian arms manufacturer established in 2022, is currently producing approximately 100 Flamingo cruise missiles per month, a scale sufficient to sustain ongoing strike operations hundreds of miles inside Russian territory.

Iryna Terekh, Fire Point’s chief executive, stated that manufacturing had resumed at full capacity after delays linked to the approval of a €90 billion EU lending package to Ukraine. Alongside the Flamingo missiles, the company is producing FP-1 and FP-2 fixed-wing drones in quantities described as “hundreds per day.” The domestic development and mass production of these weapons represent a significant advancement in Ukraine’s defense industry, providing long-range strike options that were previously unavailable to its military.

The Flamingo missile, capable of carrying a warhead weighing around 1,150 kilograms—enough to breach concrete structures—has been employed in recent operations targeting Russian military infrastructure. One notable strike hit a components factory in Cheboksary, approximately 600 miles from Kharkiv. Terekh highlighted that Flamingo missiles have flown distances nearing 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) on complex flight paths, marking some of the longest recorded cruise missile missions to date. Each missile costs close to $600,000, considerably less than the roughly $3.5 million price tag of a US Tomahawk missile.

In addition to the Flamingo, the FP-1 drones, which have ranges exceeding 1,000 miles, are reportedly used against less fortified targets such as Russian oil refineries. These attacks have disrupted fuel production by about 20%, contributing to shortages and long queues at gas stations. The drones are sold at prices between $55,000 and $75,000.

Fire Point’s operations now span 83 factories within Ukraine, as well as an additional facility in Denmark, employing around 6,000 workers—an increase from 3,500 employees late last year. Observations from a manufacturing site last December revealed assembly lines producing drones constructed from plywood, plastic, and carbon fiber.

Former US Army Europe commander Ben Hodges commented that Ukraine’s ability to conduct deep-penetration precision strikes and evade Russian air defenses reflects years of concentrated effort. He noted that the weaponry carries sufficient payloads to cause effective damage, representing a shift in the dynamic of the conflict.

Despite Russian monthly production of up to 70 air-launched Kh-101 cruise missiles, 25 sea-launched Kalibr missiles, and approximately 60 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Fire Point is advancing the development of Ukraine’s first ballistic missiles, aiming for launch by year-end. The company is also working on the FP-7 missile variant, which will serve as the foundation for Freyja, an international project involving Ukraine and nine European countries to develop an alternative air defense system to the US Patriot missile system.

While Ukrainian officials express strong support for the Patriot system, Terekh emphasized the global supply limitations. She noted that worldwide production of Patriot missiles is about 600 to 700 annually, a number quickly depleted by ongoing conflicts. As stocks run low, Ukraine is focusing on developing domestic interceptor missiles, targeting costs around $1 million each, to supplement air defense capabilities and address the high demand for missile defense amid sustained conflict.