Arabs had enough: UAE joins Ukraine to use Flamingo missiles against Iran and Russia

Today, the biggest news comes from the Middle East.

Here, while Iran is attacking its neighbors, some of them have actually anticipated this and have already started to partner with Ukraine’s most innovative defense industry company. Now, the United Arab Emirates is ready to invest in Ukrainian missiles so they can be unleashed not only against Russia but also Iran and in even larger quantities.

The United Arab Emirates-based Edge Group is set to purchase a 30 percent ownership stake in Fire Point, Ukraine’s combat-proven missile and drone manufacturer. The proposed deal of around 760 million US dollars will raise the total valuation of the Ukrainian defense firm to roughly 2.5 billion US dollars.

Fire Point, which produces the FP-1 and FP-2 unmanned aerial systems as well as the Flamingo cruise missile, has risen to become Ukraine’s leading defense technology manufacturer within just two years, with production of drones currently reaching 6,000 per month. 

The UAE submitted an application to acquire nearly one-third of Fire Point shares, which came at a critical moment, right before the ongoing war with Iran erupted. During its first days, the Emirates were among the most affected, as Iran launched more than 1,000 drones and 200 missiles at it.

The anticipation of such an attack prompted the UAE to shift its neutral stance toward Ukraine to active alignment already in December last year, deepening the ties and starting military cooperation in order to obtain valuable know-how. The UAE decided to invest in Fire Point and waited for the right moment, as the company has recently achieved the needed scale of production and near full independence in relation to critical components.

Fire Point has successfully localized 97% of engine production for its long-range FP-1 and FP-2 drones, which eliminates supply chain bottlenecks and reduces vulnerability to external disruptions or export controls. According to company official Iryna Terekh, 80 out of 82 engine components are now produced internally, covering the full manufacturing cycle from casting through final assembly. Smaller components are now also produced locally, which led to a reduction in the cost of muffler production by 80 percent.

On average, Ukraine uses 100 to 150 drones in a single attack, and the current output exceeds 200 drones per day, so with localized production and enough funding, it can be scaled up, allowing it to even export these drones.

Priced at around 58,000 US dollars per unit, the FP-1 offers an affordable and effective weapon system with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers. While Ukraine continues to depend on certain imported elements for some of its systems, the expanded domestic production base represents a significant step toward greater technological self-sufficiency and economic potential.

The most interesting product in Fire Point’s arsenal is the Flamingo cruise missile, of which the company produces 1 to 2 units per day. With 30% share in the company and certain agreements, the UAE can receive around 10 to 20 such missiles and 1800 drones per month, significantly enhancing its ability not only to protect itself against enemies like Iran, but to carry out preventive strikes. Combat-proven with an estimated range of 3,000 kilometers and already successfully used to target critical Russian infrastructure within the 2,000 kilometer range, the missile is capable of reaching and destroying any target across Iran.

Air bases, command centers, and missile storage facilities can be targeted with ease by its 1,150 kilogram warhead, forcing the Iranian command to change planning due to another deadly threat in the region. With hostilities in the Middle East escalating further, the UAE could mimic Ukraine’s operational model against Russia to protect itself. Combining attacks with Ukrainian-designed and produced drones and missiles to overwhelm Iran’s air defenses, which are currently weaker than the Russian ones, would give the Emirates a great advantage to protect its citizens and infrastructure.

Overall, the proactive positions of the UAE and the initiated defense-industrial cooperation between them and Ukraine pose a significant risk for Iran, as the introduction of the effective Ukrainian weapon systems will change the balance in the Middle East. This key investment in the Ukrainian defense industry base will allow the UAE to prevent and retaliate at a much better price, instead of just defending itself, wasting millions to stop incoming aerial threats with expensive interceptors that risk quick depletion.