The Ukrainian company Fire Point has tested a new air defence missile
The Ukrainian company Fire Point has conducted the first flight test of the FP-7.x interceptor missile, designed to counter ballistic missiles and drones. The company’s co-founder, Denis Shtilerman, told the Financial Times about this.
According to him, the test, carried out last week, was “quite successful”. Fire Point notes that the FP-7.x is being developed as a cheaper and mass-producible alternative to the Patriot, SAMP-T and other Western air defence systems.
The company expects to begin mass production of the missile as early as August. To complete the project, an infrared homing head is required, which Fire Point hopes to procure from the German company Diehl Defence. According to the manufacturer’s estimates, the missiles could be ready by 2027.
The Freyja air defence system, which includes the FP-7.x, also incorporates European radars, target detection systems and command and control systems. Fire Point has not disclosed its partners; however, according to European and Ukrainian officials, the company has held talks with Hensoldt and Thales regarding radars, with Leonardo regarding target tracking systems, and with Kongsberg regarding command and control technologies.
Denis Shtilerman stated that the cost of a single FP-7.x missile is around $700,000. For comparison, he cited the estimated cost of a Patriot PAC-3 missile, which, according to US Army budget documents for 2026, is $3.8 million.
The company also reported that it could manufacture up to three such missiles per day once production begins.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously stated that Ukraine is working with several countries to develop European anti-ballistic capabilities. At the same time, he emphasised that certain components of the Patriot systems, in particular the PAC-3 missiles, currently have no fully-fledged replacement.
Tom Karako, an expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, noted that the FP-7.x could strengthen Ukraine’s air defence system, but is unlikely to be a complete replacement for the Patriot. According to him, different types of systems must be used to counter the full spectrum of threats.
Fire Point is already known for its FP-1 and FP-2 drones, which are used to strike targets on Russian territory and in the occupied Ukrainian territories. According to experts, the company has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to implement complex defence projects.
