Photo: militarnyi.com
The Ukrainian defense company Fire Point is preparing its FP-7 and FP-9 ballistic missiles for induction into service. The new systems are significantly cheaper than Western equivalents, while their range allows them to strike strategic targets deep inside Russia.
This was reported following an interview with Fire Point co-founders Iryna Terekh and Denys Shtilerman for Deutsche Welle.
Fire Point missile specifications: an alternative to ATACMS
According to the developers, the FP-7 missile is a cost-effective alternative to the U.S. ATACMS system. It has a range of up to 300 km and is designed for high-precision short-range strikes.
The more powerful FP-9 variant is capable of hitting targets at distances of 800–850 km and carries a warhead weighing up to 800 kg.
“Eight hundred kilometers means Moscow, it means St. Petersburg,” Shtilerman said.
Terekh noted that, unlike drones or cruise missiles, ballistic missiles have a much higher probability of penetrating the three layers of air defense protecting the Russian capital.
“It is much easier to strike Moscow with ballistic missiles. Cruise missiles and drones will not be able to reach Moscow in numbers sufficient to cause serious damage to the city or its infrastructure. The only realistic option is high-speed ballistic weapons, with impact speeds exceeding 1,200 meters per second,” she said.
When FP-9 missiles could enter service
The missiles are currently undergoing final testing. Codification and official adoption into service are expected as early as February this year.
The rapid development pace is attributed to the absence of bureaucracy and simplified procedures for Ukraine’s defense sector, particularly under Government Resolution No. 256 (March 2022). By comparison, similar missile programs in France or Russia have taken more than 15 years.
“Even countries with extensive experience and advanced missile programs spent decades developing ballistic missiles. France took 15 years to develop the M51, and Russia’s S-400 system was also developed over 15 years,” Shtilerman said.
A missile defense shield for Europe
Fire Point’s priority this year is the further development of ballistic weapons, while over the next two to three years the company aims to build a pan-European ballistic missile defense shield.
The system would be based on open architecture, ensuring full independence of software from specific manufacturers or governments.
One of the project’s key goals is to dramatically reduce air defense costs. Currently, intercepting a single Russian Iskander missile costs around $6 million, while Fire Point aims to reduce this to $1–1.5 million.
This is expected to be achieved through the use of the FP-7 missile, a composite and significantly cheaper alternative to S-400-class interceptors. The missile features simplified guidance and is protected against any form of remote interference or shutdown.
Background
In January 2026, Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out a successful operation targeting the Russian Kapustin Yar missile test range, which Russia had used to launch Oreshnik ballistic missiles against Ukraine.
The strike was conducted using long-range Ukrainian-made weapons, with FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles playing a key role.
New batches of these missiles were delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in December last year, when Ukrainian military officials released images of new equipment enabling precision strikes deep in the enemy’s rear.
