From Tu-141 to 'Flamingo': how Ukraine created a cruise missile with a range of a thousand kilometers

Cruise Missile 'Flamingo'

According to ХВИЛЯ: The cruise missile 'Flamingo' is a Ukrainian development that evolved from the Soviet UAV Tu-141 'Strizh'. The chief designer of the project is Denys Shtylerman, who shared information about the process of creating the missile, the technologies used, and the achievements.

Oleksandr Kryvokin, one of the project leaders, is also a former head of 'Antonov' and the Kharkiv Aviation Plant. The first launches of 'Flamingo' were carried out using boosters designed for 'Strizh'. The exact maximum range of the missile exceeds one thousand kilometers, which is a significant achievement in the field of Ukrainian defense technologies.

Combat Payload and Production

The combat payload of 'Flamingo' is 1150 kg, allowing the missile to be used for various tasks. In addition, the production of the missile has significantly reduced the wing manufacturing cycle: from seven days to just two hours.

“We looked at 'Strizh', its design is complex, it cannot be produced in unlimited sizes. Therefore, we simplified the design, installed a more efficient and economical engine. And we made a simple missile.”

Denys Shtylerman

Thus, 'Flamingo' demonstrates not only the evolution of technologies but also significant progress in the Ukrainian defense industry.

The development of 'Flamingo' missiles is an important step for Ukraine in the context of strengthening its own defense capabilities, especially in the face of modern geopolitical challenges. Increasing the range and combat payload of these missiles can significantly impact the strategy of conducting combat operations and strengthen Ukraine's position on the international stage, demonstrating its ability to develop modern military technologies.