Ukrainian defense manufacturer Fire Point has begun military troop testing of its FP-7 ballistic missile, according to statements from company leadership.
Irina Terekh, the general director of Fire Point, told Ukrainian defense news portal Militarnyi that the new missile could see combat deployment in the near future. She noted that operational use is expected within weeks rather than months.
According to Terekh, the FP-7 has already successfully passed two initial stages of testing. The ongoing flight test phase is designed to evaluate the missile under operational conditions and confirm that its performance matches all declared technical specifications.
Ballistic missiles are rocket-propelled weapons that launch high into the upper atmosphere or space before following a free-falling trajectory under gravity toward their targets. The development of domestic ballistic missile technology forms a critical part of Ukraine's effort to expand its independent long-range strike capabilities using locally produced weaponry.
Solid fuel engines and heavy missile designs
The FP-7 is one of several missile systems currently under development by Fire Point. In August, Terekh disclosed that the company was also completing engine refinement work on a larger ballistic missile variant designated as the FP-9.
The power plant of the FP-9 is designed to carry 4.6 tonnes of solid fuel, compared to the single tonne of solid propellant carried by the FP-7. Solid-propellant rocket motors mix fuel and oxidizer into a solid compound inside the combustion chamber. This allows missiles to remain fully fueled in storage for long periods, enabling rapid deployment and faster launch reaction times during combat operations.
Anti-ballistic interceptors and air defense systems
Fire Point is also leveraging the FP-7 airframe to build air defense capabilities. In June, the company carried out test firings of the FP-7.x, a specialized anti-ballistic interceptor developed from the core FP-7 missile structure.
The FP-7.x interceptor project represents an intermediate developmental phase toward the creation of the Freyja anti-aircraft missile system. Anti-ballistic interceptors are designed to target and destroy incoming enemy missiles in mid-flight. Using existing ballistic missile airframes allows defense engineers to test guidance systems and flight control electronics prior to finalizing dedicated anti-aircraft production models.
Following the completion of its current flight trial program, Fire Point expects the FP-7 ballistic missile to move directly into military service.
