The Associated Press reported the information.Fire Point, Ukraine’s leading defense manufacturer known for long-range drones capable of striking deep inside Russia, has tapped prominent American political figures to bolster its international reputation as it faces an ongoing corruption investigation at home.The company, which has risen from relative obscurity following Russia’s 2022 invasion to report approximately $1 billion in revenue this year, announced Pompeo’s appointment to its advisory board on Nov. 12. The move comes as Fire Point attempts to more than double its capacity and expand operations into Denmark to produce battle-tested cruise missiles.However, the rapid ascent of the firm has drawn intense public scrutiny. Ukrainian anti-corruption watchdogs are currently investigating allegations regarding opaque ownership structures, potential price inflation in Defense Ministry contracts, and the company’s monopoly on deep-strike drones. Critics have pointed to alleged links between the firm and Tymur Mindich, a notorious associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implicated in separate corruption scandals.Company executives vehemently deny the allegations, stating they operate under strict martial law protocols and have commissioned an independent audit by a major international firm to transparency concerns.“In general it’s good they are working on this,” said Iryna Terekh, Fire Point’s chief technology officer of the investigation. “We completely support, as a company, the fact that this investigation is happening.”Terekh noted that the inquiry, launched a year ago, has yet to conclude. “We will be waiting for the results to come.”Seeking legitimacy through expansionThe recruitment of Pompeo and three other board members appears to be a strategic effort to insulate the company from domestic criticism and align it with Western business practices.“It’s a big honor for us,” Terekh said, speaking from the factory floor. “We decided that since we are growing into a big international company, we have to ensure we are following the clearest and best corporate standards.”“We are rising as a company and we want a wise adviser board to help us establish this work,” she added.Beyond the boardroom, Fire Point is aggressively expanding its manufacturing footprint. Utilizing the "Danish model"—where foreign governments fund Ukrainian production directly—the company is establishing a factory in Denmark to manufacture solid rocket propellant, a critical bottleneck in the supply chain.“They did a great job helping us to secure production of critical components,” Terekh said of Denmark’s support. “Our factory in Denmark is dedicated to solve a bottleneck with solid rocket propellent.”Ramping up missile productionThe expansion centers on the Flamingo (FP-5) cruise missile. With Western long-range weaponry in short supply, demand for domestic alternatives has surged.The Associated Press was granted exclusive access to an undisclosed factory location where the FP-5 is assembled. The missile, which features a carbon fiber hull designed to elude Russian radar, is a hybrid of Soviet-era engine technology and modern design.According to executives, the Flamingo has been successfully tested on the battlefield at least four times, including strikes on an FSB base in occupied Crimea and targets in the Russian city of Oryol.While the company declined to release specific production figures citing security concerns, the push for more weaponry is being aided by international crowdfunding. A Czech organization recently raised funds to purchase a $500,000 Flamingo missile in just two days.Despite the political and legal clouds hanging over the company, technical development continues on the ground.“We are studying, doing all we can to hit targets as far as we can,” said Maksym, the head of design, noting that engineers are constantly refining the weapon to bypass Russian electronic warfare. “We are learning from each launch to work on mistakes.”