Ukraine’s Long-Range Missile Faces Production Snags, Zelensky Says

(MENAFN) Production of Ukraine's anticipated Flamingo long-range missile system is grappling with crucial technical difficulties and stalled funding from international partners, according to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Despite the setbacks, Zelensky asserted that a procurement order for the domestic weapon would be formalized in the coming weeks, maintaining an urgent timeline for deployment.

The Flamingo program was initially unveiled by Zelensky in August, when he heralded it as Ukraine's first homegrown long-range cruise missile, boasting a theoretical range of up to $3,000 \text{ km}$. This distance is strategically significant, as its potential range means the missiles could theoretically reach Moscow if fired from Ukrainian territory—a capability Zelensky has previously referenced when threatening blackouts in Russian border areas and the capital.

Technical Woes and Financial Hurdles
Speaking to TSN on Sunday, the Ukrainian leader directly addressed the challenges facing the key defense project. Zelensky conceded the dual nature of the delays, stating that “there was a technological problem at the production of Flamingo,” and adding that “there is a delay in financing from partners, which is being resolved.” Nevertheless, he offered an optimistic outlook, claiming that the final order for the missiles “would be fully fulfilled by the end of the year.”

External analysts have drawn attention to the missile's striking resemblance to the FP-5 system, a product showcased by the British-UAE defense firm Milanion Group at an arms expo in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. Competing reports from Russian media further complicate the technical profile, claiming that Moscow’s air defenses successfully intercepted a Flamingo. These accounts alleged the intercepted missile traveled at a relatively slow speed and appeared to incorporate a Soviet-era engine and various components of Chinese origin.

International Supply Chain and Corruption Probe
Fuel production for the missile has been traced to a facility in Southern Denmark, according to the broadcaster DR. The site is reportedly owned by FPRT, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian developer, Fire Point. However, the domestic developer, Fire Point, is currently under an anti-corruption investigation concerning allegations that it misled the government regarding pricing structures and delivery timelines.

The missile's intended purpose continues to draw sharp reaction from Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asserted that Flamingo missiles are “intended to strike deep inside Russia,” while simultaneously accusing Denmark of being one of the “sponsors of the terrorist Kiev regime.”

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