Ukraine confirms first combat use of FP-7 tactical ballistic missile

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on October 1 that Ukraine has deployed its domestically developed FP-7 tactical ballistic missile in combat for the first time. "Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile FP-7. First combat use. Thank you for the result," Zelenskiy wrote on social media platform Telegram. He did not disclose the specific location, target, or operational details of the strike. Zelenskiy stated that following the successful combat deployment, the missile would move into the production stage, signaling Ukraine's intent to manufacture the weapon at scale.

The FP-7 is manufactured by Ukrainian defense contractor Fire Point. According to manufacturer specifications and military analysts, the missile has a range of approximately 200 km (125 miles), can carry a warhead of up to 150 kg, and achieves maximum speeds of 1,500 m/s at altitudes up to 65 km, with reported accuracy within 14 meters. Fire Point officially announced the FP-7 program in September 2025 and conducted the first test launch in February 2026. By August 2026, the missile had completed approximately 15 test firings and underwent military trials in September 2026, according to company leadership.

The FP-7 development draws partly on design principles from the Soviet-era 48N6 air defense missile system, though Fire Point indicated the similarity represents only about 20 percent of the current design. The missile is being developed within the European Freyja missile defense program framework. Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council stated in July that a prototype for the Freyja anti-ballistic system was targeted for completion in the first half of 2027.

Fire Point is among Ukraine's major defense contractors, also producing the FP-1 long-range strike drone and FP-5 "Flamingo" cruise missile. The company is simultaneously developing the FP-9, a longer-range ballistic missile with a stated range of 850 km. Russia has used ballistic missiles extensively in strikes against Ukrainian targets throughout the conflict, and Ukraine's development of domestically produced tactical ballistic missiles represents a stated priority in its defense strategy.