KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine's FP-7 short-range ballistic missile is currently too expensive for widespread use with a conventional warhead, according to its manufacturer, Fire Point. The company says a cluster-warhead version could improve the missile's cost-effectiveness.
Denys Shtilerman, Fire Point's co-founder and chief designer, said delivering a 200-kilogram payload over 300 kilometres with the FP-7 costs around $600,000. The company's FP-2 strike drone can deliver a similar payload for approximately $50,000.
Shtilerman said one FP-7 launch costs as much as 12 to 16 FP-2 drone strikes. He argued that using the missile for routine attacks with a conventional high-explosive warhead makes little economic sense.
Cluster Warhead Could Change FP-7 Economics
The FP-7 was developed as a domestically produced, lower-cost alternative to the American ATACMS ballistic missile. The solid-fuel missile can reach speeds of 1,500 metres per second and has a reported accuracy margin of around 14 metres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the missile's first successful combat use on October 1, 2026.
Shtilerman explained that ballistic missiles require strong casings to withstand launch and flight stresses. This reduces the amount of conventional explosive material they can carry. He said mass deployment of the FP-7 would become more economically viable after a cluster-munition warhead is integrated into the system.
A cluster warhead releases multiple smaller bomblets over a wider area, allowing attacks against dispersed targets. Fire Point considers this configuration more suitable for widespread use than the current conventional warhead.
FP-7 Retains Value Against Time-Sensitive Targets
Despite its high cost, the FP-7 is not being abandoned. Its high speed gives it an advantage against targets that may relocate before a strike drone arrives.
Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh has highlighted the missile's potential against time-sensitive targets, including Russian Iskander missile launchers, which could be struck before they have time to move.
Fire Point Advances FP-9 and Flamingo Missile
Fire Point is also expanding its missile portfolio. The company is conducting final tests on the longer-range FP-9 ballistic missile, which Shtilerman expects to enter combat use in the near future.
The company has also confirmed that production of its FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile is increasing, following public scrutiny and speculation about the programme.
Meanwhile, the FP-7.X interceptor variant remains a foundational component of the upcoming Freyja European anti-ballistic shield project.
The company's assessment highlights the cost difference between ballistic missiles and strike drones. While the FP-7 offers speed for urgent targets, Fire Point sees a cluster-warhead configuration as a more economical option for wider deployment.
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