Ukrainian Manufacturer Flamingo Plans Air Defense System Development by 2027
Ukrainian defense manufacturer Flamingo aims to intercept its first ballistic missile by the end of 2027, as revealed by co-founder and chief designer Denis Shtilirman during a visit to their facility.
At the Fire Point factory, located in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, workers are inspecting Flamingo cruise missiles on August 18, 2025. Chief designer and co-founder of the company, Denis Shtilirman, told Reuters journalists that their goal is to intercept their first ballistic missile by the end of 2027.
Shtilirman noted, "If we manage to reduce the cost to less than 1 million dollars, it will be (...) a revolutionary solution in the field of air defense." Fire Point, which manufactures the FP-1 drone for deep strikes and the Flamingo cruise missiles, has ambitious plans for the next two years.
Previously, Shtilirman expressed hopes for the launch of a ballistic missile capable of breaching the air defense wall surrounding Moscow. He also reported that investments from the United Arab Emirates, particularly from Edge Group, will enable the company to implement a satellite launch project in the UAE.
This deal with Emirati investors is currently under review, as Ukraine's antitrust regulator evaluates the agreement, which could value Fire Point at $2.5 billion. While Iranian ballistic missiles and drones are increasing the demand for air defense systems in the Middle East, and Patriot systems are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, Fire Point offers a cheaper alternative at a favorable moment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is actively promoting Ukraine's interceptor drones as a solution to the threat posed by Shahed drones. Interceptors and their crews have become part of several long-term agreements that Zelensky has signed with the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Fire Point claims to produce hundreds of long-range drones daily, each costing around 50,000 euros ($57,775), as well as three Flamingo missiles, priced at approximately 600,000 euros each.
Shtilirman acknowledged the existence of certain "bottlenecks" in the production of the Flamingo, particularly in engine manufacturing. He reported that the company plans to ramp up Flamingo production when a new domestic engine goes into mass production in October, and a rocket fuel production plant in Denmark is set to begin operations later this year. This plant is awaiting two final approvals from Danish authorities.