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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The Ukrainian company Fire Point is close to completing work on the strike ballistic missile FP-7. At the same time, the manufacturer is assembling its first own rocket engines for the cruise missile FP-5 "Flamingo" to end its dependence on limited stocks of older propulsion units.
Regarding the status of the two missile programs, Fire Point CEO Irina Terek told Reuters. According to her, FP-7 has already undergone about 15 test launches and is now undergoing certification by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
FP-7 could be used for the first time in the fall.
Fire Point expects that certification of FP-7 will take another two to four weeks. After completing the procedure, the company plans to move to the first combat use of the missile.
An approximate deadline named by Fire Point is early fall 2026 year. Although this is the manufacturer's plan, it depends on the results of certification and subsequent decisions by the Ministry of Defense.
Earlier, Military 24 reported that Fire Point is moving the FP-7 tests to a new stage. Then co-founder Denis Shtilerman stated that the missile is being prepared not only for field firing but also for use against real targets.
FP-7 was created for strikes against ground targets.
FP-7 is a strike ballistic missile designed to hit ground objects. According to Irina Terek, its architecture initially relied on Soviet solutions used in missiles for the S-300 and C-400 systems.
However, during development, the design was significantly changed. Fire Point says that the current FP-7 has only about 20% similarity to the Soviet missiles that became the starting point for the project.
The developers replaced part of the electronics, control systems, and construction elements. Earlier, the company also reported the use of composite materials that allow reducing the hull mass.
Military 24 detailed the claimed characteristics of FP-7 and its differences from FP-9. According to data released by the manufacturer, FP-7 received a warhead weighing up to 150 kilograms and is intended to strike targets at medium range.
Certification will pave the way to production.
Finishing tests does not yet mean an automatic start of mass production. The missile must undergo state procedures after which it can be officially supplied to the Armed Forces.
Fire Point has already conducted about 15 test launches. That number allowed testing of the missile’s main systems, but the manufacturer does not disclose the results of each individual test.
The first combat uses should become the next stage of FP-7 validation. They will show how ready the missile is to operate outside controlled test-field conditions.
For "Flamingo" they are assembling their own engine.
At the same time, Fire Point is working on a new propulsion system for the cruise missile FP-5 "Flamingo".
Previously, during production, the company used recycled rocket engines. Irina Terek compared their search to constantly checking the inventories of old aviation equipment, because suitable propulsion units are becoming increasingly scarce.
Due to the shortage, Fire Point decided to start its own production. The company is currently assembling the first batch of 10 prototype engines.
After that, the propulsion units must undergo testing. Only after confirming the required characteristics can the company move to scale production.
Why Flamingo needs its own engine.
Dependence on old aviation engines limits the number of missiles Fire Point can manufacture. Even with hulls, control systems, and other components available, production rates depend on the availability of suitable propulsion units.
Having its own engine should remove this limitation. Fire Point expects that after successful tests they will be able to produce more Flamingo missiles.
Earlier, Military 24 wrote that the Flamingo design allows using different types of engines. This enables the manufacturer to change the propulsion system without a full redesign of the missile.
Fire Point wants to increase Flamingo output.
The Flamingo cruise missiles have already been used to strike important military and industrial facilities on Russian territory. According to Reuters, in 2026 year the missile hit several notable targets.
Fire Point previously stated that they produce at least several such missiles per day. Further increases in volumes were directly linked to the transition to an in-house engine.
Military 24 told in a piece about the Flamingo’s accuracy against Russian military facilities.
Thus, Fire Point simultaneously brings FP-7 closer to combat use and solves one of Flamingo’s main production problems. Successful certification of the ballistic missile and launch of an in-house engine could allow the company to move from testing and limited batches to more stable serial production.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Україна готує нову балістичну ракету до бойового застосування". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.
