Zelenskyy says Ukraine’s new FP-7 tactical ballistic missile used in combat
President Zelenskyy confirmed the first combat use of the FP-7 and Firepoint says the missile—tested in 2026—will move to production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on October 1, 2026 that Ukraine’s new tactical ballistic missile FP-7 has been used in combat for the first time, without specifying where or how it was employed. He thanked those involved and signalled that mass production should follow.
“Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile. FP-7. First combat use. Thank you for the result. Next up: production. Glory to Ukraine!” Zelenskyy wrote on social media on October 1, 2026.
Design, origins and the maker
The FP-7 was developed and is manufactured by the Ukrainian defence company Firepoint. The company says the missile was designed as a ballistic interceptor within a European missile-defence effort named Freya, a programme launched earlier this year.
According to published technical details, the FP-7 reaches a top speed of 1,500 metres per second, has a declared range of up to 250 kilometres and carries a warhead weighing up to 200 kilograms. Firepoint states that all key elements of the system, from the rocket motor to the guidance unit, are produced in-house.
Firepoint has said the FP-7’s design draws on the Soviet 48N6 interceptor used in S-300 and S-400 air-defence systems, but incorporates modern components and advanced manufacturing techniques. A longer-range variant, FP-9, was announced alongside FP-7; development of both was officially revealed in September 2025 and the first tests were conducted in February 2026.
Denis Shtilerman, Firepoint’s co‑founder and chief designer, described the missile as a domestic counterpart to existing US systems and stressed the need for scale. “This is our equivalent to the ATACMS system, probably with an even larger warhead, but it will cost at least half the price,” he said. He added: “If you produce two or three ballistic missiles per month, it makes no sense and will not affect the situation on the battlefield.”
Ukraine, whose missile production capacity remains well behind Russia’s, views the local development of tactical ballistic weapons as a key part of responding to Moscow’s frequent use of such weapons in attacks.
Photo: press material from the event
