Ukrainian defense company accelerating air defense work: Anti-ballistic capability expected this year
Illustrative photo: a ballistic missile interceptor could appear by the end of the year (video screenshot)
The co-founder and chief designer of Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman, told Reuters that the company is signing an agreement with a European firm to supply an infrared homing head for its interceptor missile.
At the same time, negotiations are ongoing with another company regarding a radio-frequency homing head. The names of the firms were not disclosed.
Fire Point has also signed a memorandum with Munich-based Hensoldt, under which the company will provide a TRML-4D radar for the Freya missile defense system.
One day instead of a year
According to Shtilerman, Ukraine’s wartime conditions, where the government has lifted burdensome regulations, allow for much faster testing.
"How many months must you spend in Europe on this? Maybe from six months to a year. We need one day," he said.
Shtilerman added that stronger political support from European countries has accelerated the timeline of the project codenamed Freya.
"Fire Point is currently awaiting approval from European governments to start testing its interceptor missiles with the radar system," he noted.
New missiles
The company plans to begin flight testing of the FP-9 ballistic missile this summer. It will carry an 800-kilogram warhead and have a range of up to 850 km. Combat testing is expected by autumn.
Company valuation
Negotiations with a Middle Eastern investor to acquire a 30% stake for $760 million are no longer active — the company’s valuation has exceeded the offer.
According to Shtilerman, a recent offer from a "prominent investment bank" valued Fire Point at $5.8 billion.
Last week, Fire Point conducted the first test of its FP-7.X interceptor missile, which will form the basis of the Freya project. The missile is capable of reaching speeds of 1,500–2,000 m/s.
At the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister Mykhailo Fedorov signed an agreement with Germany on joint development of an anti-ballistic program, in which Fire Point will participate.
The company is also in talks with the German Ministry of Defense about the production of Flamingo cruise missiles.
