«Flamingo» could rival «Tomahawk»: Expert outlines path to upgrade
A missile that won’t give up: expert details how «Flamingo» can match US analogs.
Flamingo missile / © Associated Press / © Associated Press
Ukraine’s «Flamingo» missile, despite its relative simplicity, holds potential for upgrades that could bring it to the level of the American «Tomahawk» cruise missile.
Aviation expert Anatoliy Khrapchynskyi said this during an appearance on Fabryka News, as reported by UNIAN.
«Cheap but high-quality solution»
Commenting on the production of «Flamingo,» which some call «garage-built,» the expert described it as a «highly interesting technological solution.» He noted that the missile is a «cheap but high-quality solution,» and its ability to carry up to a ton of payload is critically important for Ukraine.
Anatoliy Khrapchynskyi recalled that Russia, bypassing sanctions, is ramping up its own weapons production. Therefore, Ukraine must bolster its capacity to strike Russian military factories. The expert stressed that the 150 kg of explosives carried by drones is insufficient for effectively targeting production facilities.
Upgrading and future of «Flamingo»
Although «Flamingo» cannot yet change targets mid-flight like the «Tomahawk,» Khrapchynskyi is confident it’s only a matter of time. He said that «composite materials and the development of a domestic engine» will make the missile even more effective in the future.
«We need something to strike Russian territory… and it’s clear we’ll need to overwhelm the enemy’s air defenses. Launching 100 attack drones and one missile with a ton of payload is one thing, but just launching 100 attack drones is another,» the expert added.
He hinted that «Flamingo» has significantly more advanced «internals» than what has been officially revealed.