Ukraine's New FP-7 Ballistic Missile: A Milestone Despite Production Challenges

Ukraine has used its domestically produced FP-7 ballistic missile for the first time, with a range of about 300 km and a production capacity of up to 10 units per month, according to Defense Express expert Ivan Kyrichevsky. He noted this is a significant achievement given the destruction of key defense facilities during the war. Kyrichevsky compared Ukraine's situation to Western nations, stating that Germany would need three years to restart production of ATACMS missiles even with ready blueprints, while France has spent two years only discussing the restoration of its short-range ballistic missile capabilities. He emphasized that Russia currently has far greater serial production capabilities than Ukraine and many Western countries. President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly pressured the manufacturer Fire Point to accelerate work on the longer-range FP-9 model, which could reach Moscow. The FP-7's operational range is approximately 250 km, and its deployment marks a milestone for Ukraine's domestic missile industry.