Ukraine is attempting to build a missile that can strike deep into Russia’s territory

Inside a sprawling, brightly lit factory in central Ukraine, a pair of launchers held up two massive cruise missiles with an unusual nickname: “the Flamingo.” Longer than a city bus and weighing nearly 7 tons, the Flamingo is at the center of Ukraine’s quest to build missiles domestically that can strike deep inside Russia’s territory.

If Ukraine is able to do that, it would lessen the country’s reliance on Western countries for powerful weapons. Recently, engineers were testing the Flamngo’s adjustable flaps and securing a small booster rocket to the missile, which would be fired from a secret launch point in Ukraine to a target in Russia.

Fire Point, the company that makes the missile, has already developed Ukraine’s FP-1 drone. With a range of up to 870 miles, the drone has become the workhorse of Kiev’s campaign to hobble Russia’s oil industry.

Ukraine has carried out over 100 strikes on Russian energy facilities since August, causing billions of dollars in damage and at one point knocking out as much s one-fifth of Russia’s oil-refining capacity.

The problem is that Russia can often quickly patch up refineries hit by the drones 230 pound warhead-sometimes in less than a week. To cause real damage, Ukraine needs something that packs a much bigger punch. Fire Point believes the Flamingo, with a 2500 pound war head, is the solution.

While experts say the Flamingo holds promise for Ukraine’s military, they say the missile hasn’t yet proven that it can achieve the ranges it was designed to reach. They argue the missile’s size and weight slow it down and make it easier to spot and intercept.

Flamingo is working to rectify some of these identified mistakes. While there is still a ways to go before they are able to make a weapon that can consistently and effectively damage assets deep in Russian territory, this is another example of Ukraine working to become more self sufficient and more able to take the fight to Russia.