Ukraine's Fire Point teases new ballistic missile launch as FP-7 and FP-9 near final tests
Photo: Fire Point is developing two ballistic missiles at once (x.com/DenShtilierman)
Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman showed a photo of a nighttime launch of a Ukrainian missile.
RBC-Ukraine explains what is known about Fire Point’s ballistic developments and when the new missiles may enter serial production.
Key points
- Fire Point is developing two ballistic missiles, FP-7 and FP-9. The missiles will have ranges of up to 200 and up to 850 kilometers, respectively.
- FP-7 is a budget alternative to the American ATACMS system. The missile has a range of up to 200 km and is designed for high-precision strikes.
- Combat use may take place as early as this year. Fire Point’s ballistic missiles are undergoing final tests.
Fire Point is preparing two ballistic missiles
The Ukrainian defense company is preparing two ballistic missiles for deployment — FP-7 and FP-9. The new developments are said to be significantly cheaper than Western counterparts, while their range allows them to strike strategic targets deep inside Russia.
According to the developers, the FP-7 missile is a budget analogue of the American ATACMS system. It has a range of up to 200 km and is designed for high-precision strikes at short distances.
"This will be an ATACMS analogue, perhaps even with a larger warhead. But it will cost at least twice as cheap," Shtilerman emphasized.
The more powerful modification — FP-9 — is capable of hitting targets at a distance of 800-850 km and carries an 800 kg warhead. The company also noted that, unlike drones or cruise missiles, ballistic projectiles have a significantly higher chance of breaking through the air defense systems around the Russian capital.
When will FP-7 and FP-9 become mass-produced?
Several months ago, company representatives said that the missiles are currently undergoing final tests. They may undergo codification and official adoption into service as early as this year.
Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman previously stated that tests could begin this summer or in early fall.
Fire Point explains the speed of ballistic missile development by the absence of bureaucracy and simplified procedures for Ukraine’s defense sector. For comparison, similar programs in France and Russia lasted more than 15 years.
The missiles are expected to be launched from mobile launchers disguised as ordinary trucks, making them difficult to detect. The deployment of the system, according to the developers, may take about 15 minutes.
Other Fire Point developments
Fire Point also manufactures the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile. It is already in use and became the company’s first mass-produced missile. FP-7 will become the next step in the manufacturer’s weapons lineup.
Denys Shtilerman previously said that Fire Point is accelerating the development of a missile defense system. According to him, the first interceptor missiles are planned to be produced by the end of this year.
Fire Point recently successfully conducted the first test of the FP-7.X interceptor missile, which will become the basic platform for the Freya project. During flight, it is capable of reaching speeds of 1,500 to 2,000 m/s.
