Ukraine's 1,900-Mile Cruise Missile Is Very Big, Very Fast and Very Destructive

Can Kyiv afford it?

The FP-5. Milanion art

Most of Ukraine’s deep-strike drones range no farther than 800 miles. Worse, the best of them—the extended-range Ukroboronprom An-196s, for instance—reach their maximum range by adding fuel at the expense of explosives. The farthest-flying An-196s may pack warheads weighing fewer than 220 pounds.

That trade-off—less payload for greater range—is the main reason why Ukraine’s deep strikes aren’t always very destructive. Especially the ones targeting oil refineries, weapons factories and air bases in the 800-mile zone.

“Drones that can fly that far typically can’t deliver the kind of payload needed to inflict serious or lasting damage to a facility that big,” explained Tatarigami, the founder of the Frontelligence Insight analysis group.

A new cruise missiles may change the math. For Ukraine, the ramp-launched Flamingo is an opportunity to massively expand its strike campaign—hitting more targets farther away while inflicting greater damage.