“If we manage to reduce the cost of intercepting a ballistic missile to less than $1 million, it will be a real breakthrough in air defense solutions. We plan to intercept the first ballistic missile at the end of 2027”, - said the co-founder and chief designer of Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman, in a comment to Reuters.
The Ukrainian manufacturer Fire Point, known for its FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, aims to create an affordable alternative to scarce Patriot air defense systems. While Western interceptors cost millions of dollars per unit, Ukrainian engineers are working to integrate their own experience with European radar and guidance technologies (in particular from giants such as Saab and Thales). The goal is ambitious: to make air defense economically efficient in order to overload the financial and production resources of the aggressor.
The company is in the final stage of developing two powerful ballistic missiles that could fundamentally change the rules of the game:
FP-7: a supersonic missile with a range of 300 km, serving as a domestic analogue of the American ATACMS. Its first combat use is expected in the near future.
FP-9: a powerful deterrence tool with an 800 kg warhead and a range of 850 km. This development will allow Ukraine to carry out ballistic strikes on moscow, which, according to the company’s leadership, will force the kremlin to seriously reconsider its strategy.
Fire Point is preparing for a major financial leap: a Middle Eastern conglomerate (likely Edge Group) plans to acquire a 30% stake for $760 million, valuing the company at $2.5 billion. This deal will not only expand production but also open the way for the construction of a space launch complex in the Emirates. Using Ukrainian carbon winding technologies for rocket boosters, the partners plan to launch satellites into low orbit, turning Ukraine into an important player in the space market.
To sustain this pace, Fire Point is scaling up production: in October, the production of its own engines will begin, and a rocket fuel plant is being prepared for launch in Denmark. The company already produces hundreds of drones daily and three Flamingo missiles, but the export potential of 2,500 long-range UAVs per month could become a key source of foreign currency inflows for the Ukrainian budget after receiving the necessary permits.