Ukrainian Startup Builds Long-Range Missiles for Deep Strikes 2026

The Ukrainian startup Fire Point is manufacturing long-range cruise missiles and drones at scale, enabling deep strikes into Russian territory. With production of about 100 Flamingo missiles per month and hundreds of fixed-wing drones daily, the company has become a key supplier for Ukraine's military.

Mass Production of Flamingo Cruise Missiles

Fire Point's Flamingo missile, carrying 1,150kg of explosive, can penetrate concrete walls and fly complex paths up to 1,800km. CEO Iryna Terekh states each missile costs under $600,000—far cheaper than a US Tomahawk at $3.5 million. The missiles have been used to attack a Russian military components factory in Cheboksary, over 600 miles from Kharkiv.

FP-1 and FP-2 Fixed-Wing Drones

The lighter FP-1 drone has a range exceeding 1,000 miles and is used against Russian oil refineries. According to Terekh, these drones cost between $55,000 and $75,000 each. The campaign has cut Russian refinery production by 20%, causing long queues at petrol pumps.

Scaling Up Manufacturing

Fire Point now operates from 83 factories inside Ukraine and one in Denmark, employing 6,000 people—up from 3,500 late last year. Production paused briefly due to delays in EU lending, but has resumed at full capacity.

• Flamingo missiles: ~100 per month, used for deep strike.
• FP-1/FP-2 drones: Hundreds per day, targeting oil infrastructure.
• Daily strikes: Average 5–15 attacks using Fire Point munitions.
• Cost advantage: Flamingo ~6x cheaper than Tomahawk.

Impact on the War

Fire Point's development since its 2022 founding demonstrates the rapid maturing of Ukraine's homegrown defense industry. Terekh notes, 'I’m not aware of any deep strike attack in the past few months that was not involving our products.' This capability fills the gap left by Western restrictions on long-range weapons.

FAQ