Key facts
- Ukraine has used its domestically developed FP-7 ballistic missile in combat for the first time.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the missile's use on Oct. 1.
- Ukrainian officials declined to specify the target of the missile strike.
- The FP-7 missile has a claimed range of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) and carries a 200-kilogram warhead.
- Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh stated in September that the FP-7 was expected to enter service within weeks.
Ukraine has confirmed the first combat use of its domestically developed FP-7 ballistic missile, with President Volodymyr Zelensky announcing the milestone on Thursday, October 1. However, Ukrainian officials have declined to disclose the specific target of the strike.
The FP-7 missile, manufactured by Ukrainian defense concern Fire Point, is designed with a claimed range of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) and a 200-kilogram warhead. Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh had previously stated in September that the missile was expected to enter service within weeks.
According to Denys Shtilerman, chief designer and co-founder of Fire Point, the FP-7 is based on the Soviet-era 48N6 interceptor but incorporates modern components. He described it as a potential analog to the ATACMS missile, possibly with a larger warhead, and emphasized the goal of mass production to impact the front lines.
Nazarii Barchuk, an analyst at the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, outlined the FP-7's intended targets, which include front-line positions, command posts, weapons storage, military equipment like radar and air defense systems, drone launch sites, and airfields within its range.
Fire Point has emerged as a significant Ukrainian defense manufacturer since its founding in 2022, also producing long-range drones and the FP-5 cruise missile. However, its growth has been accompanied by allegations of corruption and questions regarding its ownership structure.