Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia: range, limits and lack of weapons
Quick Look
- Ukraine attacks Russian targets with hundreds of drones every day, but the range and impact are limited.
- There is a lack of long-range weapons such as Tomahawk or Taurus cruise missiles and sufficient ballistic missiles for deeper strikes in the Russian hinterland.
- In-house developments such as the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile and the FP-7 and FP-9 rockets are in development but are encountering engine and production problems.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Since 2022, Ukraine has been increasingly using drones to attack Russian territory, initially with simple models and later with larger systems such as the Fire Point FP-1 and the Antonov An-196 Liutyi. The range extends to Siberia, but most attacks are concentrated in European Russia within 2,000 kilometers. Western weapons such as Storm Shadow/SCALP and ATACMS have limited range and low availability, while requested systems such as Tomahawk or Taurus have not been delivered.
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The FP-7 missile will enter service with the Ukrainian army within the next few weeks.
Possible · Within weeks
The FP-9 rocket will be used soon after successful flight tests and will represent a major challenge for Russia.
Possible · Within months
Engine production for Ukrainian missiles in Denmark is expected to begin only at the end of 2027.
Likely · Within years
Open Questions
- When will series production of the Flamingo FP-5 begin?
- How many engines for the FP-7 and FP-9 rockets are currently available?
- Will the engine production factory in Denmark actually be built?
- When could the FP-7 and FP-9 missiles be ready for use?
