The Ukrainian defense company Fire Point is working on a new ballistic missile that it says could reach targets in Moscow. If the FP-9 becomes operational, it could also change the war strategically.
July 16, 2026, 7:52 p.mJuly 16, 2026, 7:52 p.m
Julian Seiferth / t-online
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine has massively expanded its own arms industry. Drones, cruise missiles and artillery are now increasingly being produced domestically. Now the Ukrainian company Fire Point is working on a weapon that could mark a new stage: a ballistic missile with a range of around 855 kilometers.
According to the company, the development of the FP-9 is nearing a crucial milestone. Only the solid fuel engine still needs to be tested successfully. The first flight tests could then begin.
“Everything is ready for the FP-9 to reach Moscow – except for the engine,” said Fire Point co-founder and chief designer Denys Shtilerman in an interview with the Ukrainian YouTube channel Pressing. After a successful test flight, “the next flight towards Moscow” should take place. It is currently unclear whether this will actually happen. According to publicly known information, the rocket has not yet completed a full test flight.
What is the FP-9?
The FP-9 is a short-range ballistic missile that, according to Fire Point, is designed to transport a warhead weighing around 800 kilograms over a distance of 855 kilometers. The missile is expected to reach speeds of more than Mach 7 (around 2200 meters per second) and hit its target with an accuracy of around 20 meters. With a length of 9.5 meters, it would be larger than the Russian Iskander-M.
Above all, the speed and flight profile distinguish the FP-9 from the drones and cruise missiles that Ukraine has so far mainly used for attacks deep in the Russian hinterland.
Why are ballistic missiles so special?
While drones fly comparatively slowly and cruise missiles follow the terrain at low altitudes, ballistic missiles initially rise to high altitudes after launch. They then rush towards their target at very high speed.
This significantly shortens the response time of the air defense. According to Fire Point, the FP-9 could reach its target in less than three minutes.
The company sees this as a decisive advantage, especially against heavily protected targets. No cruise missile in Ukraine’s current arsenal can cover such great distances with a heavy warhead while penetrating the layered air defenses surrounding Moscow, Fire Point argues. This assessment has not been independently confirmed.
Can the FP-9 actually reach Moscow?
Purely mathematically, this seems possible. Fire Point’s stated range of 855 kilometers would be enough to reach Moscow from parts of the Ukrainian border. St. Petersburg is also within reach, said Shtilerman.
However, it remains to be seen whether the rocket will actually achieve these performance data. To date, neither successful flight tests nor independent technical evidence have been published.
In addition, the actual operational range under wartime conditions depends on numerous factors – such as the launch location, the flight path or the payload.
Why does Russia have to take development seriously?
If the FP-9 achieves the announced performance data, it would give Ukraine its own long-range ballistic capability for the first time. This would make it possible to attack targets deep in the Russian hinterland more quickly than before.
These could include military headquarters, logistics centers, ammunition, oil storage facilities or defense industry facilities. The political signal effect would also be significant: for the first time, a ballistic missile developed entirely in Ukraine could reach the Russian capital.
The high speed in particular would shorten the advance warning time. This distinguishes ballistic missiles from cruise missiles and drones, whose approach often takes significantly longer.
A burning oil warehouse in Russia (archive image): Ukraine is already hitting parts of its infrastructure again and again.Image: keystone
Is Moscow defenseless?
No. Russia has one of the world’s densest missile defense systems. Satellite images also indicate that Russia has recently further expanded its air defense around Moscow. How successful these systems actually are against modern ballistic missiles is unclear.
A young company with big ambitions
Fire Point was only founded in 2022 and says it has developed from a small start-up to a company with around 6,000 employees within just a few years.
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the company now produces more than half of Ukraine’s long-range drones. In addition to the FP-9, Fire Point is developing the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile and its own missile defense system, Freyja, which is intended as a cheaper alternative to the US Patriot system.
German companies are now also involved: Diehl and Hensoldt have agreed to cooperate with Fire Point.