Unveiling Of Ukrainian FP-5 "Flamingo" Cruise Missile Draws Attention To Characterization Of Range-Payload

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Note: The following text was originally posted on my X/Twitter account.

The new "Flamingo" cruise missile and new FP-1 propeller-driven strike drone should serve as reminders that maximum range figures are not absolutes and are therefore best understood and expressed as range-payload (or payload-range). For reusable ISR drones, etc: range-endurance.

The same dynamic also applies to ballistic missiles. Here are some extreme examples from South Korea (reduced range/very heavy payload) Hyunmoo-5 and Ansarallah in Yemen by way of Iran (Zulfiqar and Burkan, which are ultimately extended range/low payload R-17 Elbrus "Scud" mods).