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Ukraine’s Fire Point Confirms Air-Launched Missile, Targets Cheaper Missile Defense

The plan underscores Ukraine’s push to create homegrown answers to scarce Western interceptors.

Overview

  • Fire Point disclosed Monday it is developing an air-launched ballistic missile based on its FP-9 platform.
  • An air launch boosts range because the carrier jet supplies altitude and speed, letting the missile spend its fuel on forward flight.
  • The company says the ground FP-9 reaches about 800 km and is about to start tests, while the smaller FP-7 near 300 km is close to first deployment.
  • Fire Point aims to field a lower-cost anti-ballistic system with a first interception by end-2027 and a per-shot goal under $1 million, and it is in talks with European firms for radar, seekers, and communications.
  • A proposed $760 million sale of a 30% stake to a Middle Eastern investor, under Ukrainian anti-monopoly review into October, would value Fire Point at $2.5 billion and could fund expansion including a space-launch concept.