Ukraine is developing the FP-9 ballistic missile with a speed superior to the Iskander system.
Fire Point (Ukraine) is developing the FP-9 missile, which has a speed of over 1,000 m/s, surpassing the Iskander missile to increase its ability to penetrate modern air defense systems.
Ukraine is accelerating research into a new ballistic missile called the FP-9, designed to strike strategic targets deep within enemy territory. This project, undertaken by the defense company Fire Point, focuses on increasing its approach speed to optimize its ability to penetrate air defense systems.
Technical specifications and penetration capabilities of the FP-9 missile.
According to Denys Shtilerman, a representative of Fire Point, the FP-9 missile was developed with the goal of achieving a cruising speed far exceeding that of comparable enemy systems. Specifically, while Russia's Iskander missile has a speed of approximately 800 m/s, Ukraine's new missile is expected to reach speeds exceeding 1,000 m/s.
The increase in terminal velocity plays a crucial role in reducing the likelihood of interception. According to the manufacturer, higher velocities will give air defense systems less time to react, thereby improving the effectiveness of attacks on targets deep inside enemy territory. Shtilman believes that this missile series has the potential to significantly change the landscape of long-range attacks.
The testing roadmap and platform from the FP-7 project.
The FP-9 project is a continuation of Fire Point's previous weapon systems, most notably the FP-7 ballistic missile. According to published data, the FP-7 demonstrated capabilities with a 150 kg warhead, a range of up to 200 km, and a maximum velocity of 1,500 m/s. This system had a target accuracy of approximately 14 m and was specifically designed for medium-range targets.
In addition, Fire Point released a video capturing the launch of the FP-7 missile from a ground-based launcher in late February. Based on experience from the previous project, the developers plan to conduct the first field tests for the FP-9 series in early summer this year. This is considered a significant effort by Ukraine to achieve self-reliance in long-range precision-guided weapon technology.