Ukrainian claims about possible strikes on Russia using domestically produced ballistic missiles amount to little more than a profanation, according to Maxim Kondratyev, founder of a UAV training center and academician of the Russian Academy of Engineering, who made the assessment in a comment to Lenta.ru.

Kondratyev argued that Kiev is unlikely to develop weapons comparable to Russia’s Iskander or Kinzhal systems. Such missiles, he noted, depend on highly complex guidance, maneuvering and supersonic-flight technologies. In his view, Ukrainian-assembled ballistic systems, given the technological gap, would not pose a serious challenge to Russian air defenses, while conventional air defense systems would be able to respond effectively to such threats.

The expert also questioned the level of Fire Point’s developments. He said that after the Flamingo cruise missile was opened up, investigators found an open-source flight controller inside, with a price of roughly 150,000 rubles. Kondratyev stressed that this kind of equipment is not exclusive to military designers and can be obtained by aircraft model enthusiasts or students.

He also said NATO countries are unlikely to hand Kiev exclusive military technologies. In his assessment, such systems could quickly end up on the black market and be resold to third countries if buyers appeared.

For that reason, Kondratyev believes Ukraine’s ballistic missile program should not be expected to produce major technological breakthroughs, at least in the next several years, and will not create a significant threat in the near future.

Earlier, Fire Point co-founder Denis Shtilerman said Ukraine could carry out its first strike on Russia using its own ballistic missile this autumn. He added that engine tests are currently underway.