Production Bottleneck: Ukraine's "Flamingo" Missile Daily Output Target of 7 Units Temporarily Unmet
On August 3, Iryna Telykh, CEO of Fire Point, disclosed in an interview with TWZ that the company has already begun assembling the first 10 prototype turbojet engines, a development effort that has taken over 18 months. Fire Point collaborated with the same design bureau previously responsible for developing the AI-25 engine to create this domestically developed turbojet engine.
She explained that the FP-5 "Flamingo" cruise missile was initially powered by the AI-25TL engine; historically, five different engine variants have been tested on this missile.
"The 'Flamingo' was designed from the outset as a versatile platform capable of accommodating multiple types of engines. Therefore, we can indeed significantly expand the list of compatible engines."
Fire Point’s domestically developed turbojet engine was originally intended for use in drones, with a development cycle exceeding 18 months. "Currently, we are assembling the first batch of 10 prototype turbojet engines equipped with self-produced fan components."
Telykh stated that the new engine will be completed as soon as possible. She emphasized in particular: "Manufacturing a turbojet engine presents greater technical challenges than manufacturing a missile."
The company plans to complete all prototype testing and implement necessary improvements by the end of this year, aiming to transition into mass production next year.
Telykh also candidly admitted that the original target to increase the "Flamingo" missile production capacity to at least seven units per day has not yet been achieved.
"Unfortunately, due to Ukraine’s reliance on EU loan funding which has not yet come through, actual order volumes have not reached full production levels. As a result, current output falls short of the factory’s maximum capacity. We hope to raise production to the target level, which could potentially be achieved by the end of this year or early next year, ultimately depending on contract signings."
The "Flamingo" missile had previously considered using British engines. Earlier, Russian defense experts claimed that Ukraine’s FP-5 "Flamingo" cruise missile had already been fitted with a new British engine. The Western market offers several non-afterburning turbojet engines with thrust around 17 kN, weighing between 300–400 kg; their dimensions are roughly comparable to the commonly used AI-25TL engine, with most models being even more compact.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872560683635848/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author