Inside the Ukrainian Workshop Building a Giant: The One-a-Day ‘Flamingo’ Missile

Behind the unassuming facades of industrial buildings in Ukraine, a painstaking, almost artisanal process is underway to create one of the most anticipated and powerful tools of modern warfare. The Associated Press gained exclusive access to a secretive production facility assembling the FP-5 missile, known by its poetic and somewhat ironic callsign—’Flamingo.’

The name, it turns out, wasn’t born from aggression but from color. The first prototypes were painted a bright pink shade, which, given the munition’s imposing size, reminded engineers of the graceful bird. But that’s where any poetry ends. The ‘Flamingo’ is one of the largest non-nuclear missiles in the world, capable of carrying over a tonne of lethal payload.

The bombshell of the report, which has circulated global media, is the incredibly low, almost artisanal current production rate. Just one missile per day. In an era where wars are often fought with conveyor-belt efficiency, Ukraine has chosen a different path: one of quality, precision, and complexity.

Footage shot by AP shows not a giant automated plant, but rather a high-tech workshop. Engineers and technicians manually assemble components, check systems, and solder circuit boards. Each missile is a bespoke product, taking weeks of labor. It feels less like a WWII-era arms factory and more like the limited-edition assembly line for a hypercar: exclusive, expensive, and focused on absolute results.

However, the situation is changing rapidly. According to the report, Ukraine’s defense sector is undergoing a quiet revolution. Thanks to modernized production lines and support from international partners, the country plans to make a dramatic leap by October—ramping up production to seven of these missiles per day. This isn’t just a number increase; it’s a fundamental shift in logistics and capability.

Western analysts and security specialists are watching this closely. The low current production rates suggest Ukraine isn’t planning to spend its ‘trump card’ on short-term, pinpoint strikes. Instead, it appears to be about building a critical mass for future large-scale strategic objectives. The Flamingo’s long range and powerful warhead make it an ideal tool for hitting key, heavily fortified targets deep behind enemy lines.

This creates a serious debate in expert circles. The concern isn’t just about the weapon itself, but the strategic paradox it creates. Ukraine is clearly building a potential to strike critical infrastructure, which could radically alter the balance of power in the region. The question being asked in headquarters and think tanks from Brussels to Washington is: how will this accumulated arsenal be used, and how will Russia respond?

The Ukrainian ‘Flamingo’ is more than a missile. It’s a symbol of the war’s transition into a new, technologically complex, and strategically uncertain phase, where every single unit counts and its deployment could have far-reaching consequences.