A newly unveiled Ukrainian missile, the Flaming, reportedly armed with a one‑ton warhead and a 3,000‑kilometre range, has already been used in an attack on Russian infrastructure. The weapon’s unprecedented size and reach could dramatically increase Ukraine’s strike capability against Russia’s key strategic sites.
Undetermined outcomes of early launches
The effects of the Flaming’s first launches are still unknown. All information about the new missile is unofficial and largely speculative. Reports suggest it was employed in an attack on the Friendship oil‑pipeline pumping station in the Tambov region during the night of August 17‑18, with satellite imagery showing significant damage. Compared to standard Ukrainian long‑range strike systems, the Flaming’s impact appears far more destructive.
Heavy warhead and extended range
The Flaming is said to carry a ~1‑ton warhead, whereas the drones and modified aircraft currently used by Ukraine typically possess warheads under 100 kg. The latter systems, being lightweight and slow, deliver relatively modest kinetic energy. Even if they hit a target, the damage is usually minor unless the target is highly flammable or explosive. In contrast, a Flaming strike would likely cause far more severe destruction, potentially igniting fires or triggering secondary detonations at crucial facilities.
Massive range of roughly 3,000 km
Official estimates peg the Flaming’s range at about 3,000 km—well beyond Ukraine’s existing weapons, which reach no more than 1,000–1,500 km. That distance would allow attacks across all of European Russia, including remote bases such as those on the Kola Peninsula and in far‑northwestern Siberia, as well as key industrial sites beyond the Ural Mountains—Nizhny Tagil tank factory, Kurgan armored‑vehicle plant, and Yekaterinburg artillery barrel manufacturer, to name a few.
Rocket reveal via a Facebook post
The missile was first disclosed in a Monday Facebook post by AP correspondent Efrem Lukatsky, including a single image of the Flaming on a transporter‑roller in a Ukrainian factory. He noted a 3,000 km range and the initiation of serial production. The same day, the popular Ukrainian weekly Dzerkało Tyżnia confirmed the range and added a 1,150 kg payload, stating it had been used in combat. Accompanying video footage of a test launch and a real attack on Russia was also provided, as were claims that the missile factory was “hidden in the Karpathian forests.” The design focus was cited as warhead mass, range, and rapid launch preparation.
Possible British links
Fire Point, the company mentioned by both sources, has not been widely known. However, it appears linked to the British firm Milanion, which showcased the FP‑5 maneuvering missile at the Abu Dhabi arms fair earlier in the year. The FP‑5—visually similar to the Flaming—shares comparable basic parameters: range and warhead mass. A link to the original brochure is available in high resolution.
Milanion connection
The Italian brochure confirms that the Milanion FP‑5 matches many of the Flaming’s specifications, aside from internal guidance sophistication and size. Its flight speed is 800–900 km/h, subsonic. Guidance relies on satellite navigation and an internal inertial system designed to resist electronic warfare. Launch requires a large transporter and a short‑burn solid‑fuel rocket motor. The missile flies at a maximum altitude of 5 km, usually much lower (a few hundred metres). The launch weight is 6 t with a 6‑m wingspan. While the brochure lacks details on the main engine, the stated 20–40 minute prep time is relatively long for modern missiles and indicates substantial assembly and fueling requirements.
Construction simplicity and implications
Claims of “ease of production,” combined with the missile’s large size, suggest a relatively simple design. Modern maneuvering missiles with 1.5–2.5 t launch mass can deliver a half‑ton warhead over 2,500–3,000 km, remaining ready to launch within seconds. In contrast, the Flaming’s heavier and bulkier construction, similar to the Soviet Tu‑141 reconnaissance drone from the 1970s, demands more preparation. While simplicity may allow mass production, it also makes the missile easier to detect, track, and intercept by Russian air defenses during flight and launch preparations.
Potential impact on Russia
If the Flaming succeeds, it could become a measurable threat to Russian strategic sites far Ukraine. The ability to strike detailed facilities such as aircraft factories, drone production plants, or nuclear installations within a short time could shift the battlefield dynamics. Even if defenses suffice, the large warhead would inflict significant damage, more so than current small‑warhead Ukrainian systems.
Overall implications for Ukraine’s campaign
Adding a handful of Flaming‑class missiles to Ukraine’s arsenal would markedly raise the scale and severity of its strike campaign. Presently, Ukraine relies on smaller systems capable of delivering only limited damage. If several dozen Flaming rockets were fielded, the scale of destruction would increase, further complicating Russian military operations. Though not revolutionary enough to end the war, the proliferation of these missiles would undeniably impose greater operational strain on Russia.
Source: Gazeta,
