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Ukrainian defense company Fire Point unveiled a full-scale mock-up of its new FP-9 ballistic missile on August 18 at the DALO Industry Days exhibition in the city of Herning, Denmark.
The company first unveiled the FP-9, along with a much smaller ballistic missile codenamed the FP-7, in September of last year.
According to Fire Point, the FP-9 will have a range of 855 kilometers, a speed of 2,200 meters per second, and a warhead weighing up to 800 kg. The missile can supposedly reach an altitude of 70 kilometers and has an accuracy of around 20 meters.
The smaller FP-7 will have a range of 200 kilometers, a top speed of 1,500 meters per second, and a warhead weighing 150 kg. The company claims the missile can fly for up to 250 seconds.
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A full-scale model of the FP-7, in addition to the FP-1 one-way attack drone and the FP-5 cruise missile, was showcased alongside the FP-9 mock-up at the exhibition.
The design of the FP-7 is very similar to that of early versions of the 5V55 anti-aircraft missile, which makes up the main armament of Soviet-made S-300 long-range air defense systems. Meanwhile, the design of the FP-9 appears to be heavily inspired by that of Russia’s Iskander-M ballistic missile.
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In July, Fire Point co-owner and chief designer Denis Shtilerman said the company was only one final stage of solid-fuel engine testing away from being able to use the new missile against Russia. He claimed that once the tests confirm all systems are operational, the next FP-9 flight would be directed toward Moscow.
Fire Point CEO Iryna Tretyak had previously said that the first test launch of the new ballistic missile was scheduled for autumn 2026. According to her, the company plans to build around 12 experimental units.
These ballistic missiles, especially the FP-9, pose a credible threat. However, Russia already has advanced anti-ballistic missile capabilities. In fact, last July, what is believed to have been a test of the FP-9 ended with the missile being intercepted far outside Moscow.
Another major hurdle for Fire Point’s project is Russia’s deep strike capabilities. Last year, the Russian military and intelligence services succeeded in stalling a Ukrainian project to mass-produce the Sapsan, a tactical ballistic missile with a range of 700 kilometers and a warhead weighing 480 kg, following a series of strikes that wiped out production facilities.
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