Ukraine is continuing development of its domestically produced FP-7 ballistic missile, described as a lower-cost analogue to the U.S.-made ATACMS system, according to Denys Shtilerman, co-founder and chief designer of defense company Fire Point.
In comments to Channel 24, Shtilerman said the missile has a strike range of up to 300 kilometers (about 186 miles), depending on the weight of its warhead. He noted that the Ukrainian system is not as compact as its American counterpart.
Shtilerman said Fire Point manufactures all key components in-house, while the warhead is produced separately under contract.
“There has already been a flight. We are now moving to testing on our ‘favorite’ neighbors,” he said, referring to Russia.
He acknowledged that bureaucratic procedures affect the missile’s final cost but described such processes as standard practice in large-scale defense manufacturing.
To accelerate development, he said the company is codifying its missile systems as unmanned aerial vehicles.
“That’s why we codify everything as drones — FP-5 is a drone, and FP-7 as well. We don’t have time to follow old codification methods. If we adhered to the traditional military bureaucracy, we would still be testing the FP drone,” Shtilerman said.
The FP-7 is a conventionally designed ballistic missile intended to strike enemy targets at medium ranges.
According to Fire Point, the missile’s aerodynamic layout and control principles are modeled on the Soviet-era 48N6 missile, which Russia currently uses in its S-400 air defense systems. However, the FP-7 features a different guidance system and flight-control equipment. It is also made from composite materials, which the company says reduce the missile’s weight and increase its range.
