Fire Point (Ukrainian firm)

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Fire Point is a Ukrainian defence technology company headquartered in Kyiv. Founded in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it specializes in the design, development, and production of long-range strike drones and cruise missiles. The company's flagship products include the FP-1 series of deep-strike drones and the FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile, both of which have been deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to conduct precision strikes deep inside Russian-held territory. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Fire Point was established in mid-2022 by a group of engineers, architects, and game designers seeking to develop cost-effective, high-performance unmanned aerial systems in support of Ukraine's defence industry. Initially operating in makeshift workshops, the company rapidly scaled to multiple covert production facilities across Kyiv and surrounding regions. [1]

In late 2024, Fire Point unveiled its FP-1 series of long-range “deep-strike” drones, capable of reaching targets up to 1,600 km away. Production increased from an initial target of 30 units per month to over 100 units per day by mid-2025, with each drone costing approximately US$55,000 to manufacture. [1]

In 2025, Fire Point unveiled the FP-5 "Flamingo" cruise missile, weighing 6,000 kg with a warhead of 1,150 kg and a maximum range of 3,000 km. The company invited journalists from the Associated Press to tour a production facility where the missiles were being built. [3]

In August 2025, it was reported that National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) had launched an investigation into Fire Point, examining whether the company inflated the cost of components used in its products, the number of drones supplied to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, or both. The probe was reported to be also looking into possible links between the company and Tymur Mindich, co-owner of the Kvartal 95 television studio founded by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [4] [5] The company confirmed the existence of an investigation while denying the allegations. [4] NABU initially declined to comment, before stating that the FP-5 Flamingo missile was not under investigation. [6]

Products

FP-1 series

The FP-1 is a propeller-driven one-way attack drone with a 1,600km range and a warhead ranging from 60-120 kg. Its design emphasises modularity, ease of assembly, and electronic warfare resilience. The system has been credited with conducting more than 60 percent of Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory, targeting ammunition depots, oil refineries, and command centres. [1]

FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile

Announced in early 2025, the FP-5 “Flamingo” is a sea-skimming[ citation needed ] cruise missile with a range of up to 3,000 km and a warhead mass of 1,150 kg. Its airframe is constructed using radar-transparent fiberglass winding, a technique typically reserved for ballistic missiles. Production ramp-up began with 30 units per month in mid-2025, with a goal of 210 units per month by October 2025. [2] Ukrainian sources claimed that Flamingo missiles were used in August 2025 to successfully target a Federal Security Service outpost in Crimea, in what was described as their first combat use. [7] [8]

Product announcements

On 4 September 2025, at the MSPO defense exhibition in Poland, Fire Point unveiled two new ballistic missile systems, designated FP-7 and FP-9, alongside plans for air defense systems. [9] [10] [11] Both missiles ascend into high trajectories before descending on their targets, making their high terminal speeds a challenge for most air defense systems. [11]

The FP-7 is a medium-range ballistic missile with an operational range of up to 200 km, a top speed of approximately 1,500 m/s, and a warhead weighing around 150 kg. [9] The missile can remain in flight for up to 250 seconds and achieves an estimated accuracy (circular error probable, CEP) of about 14 m when launched from ground-based platforms for operational strikes. [10]

The FP-9 is a strategic-range ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 855 km away, with a velocity up to 2,200 m/s and an 800 kg warhead. [11] It can reach altitudes of around 70 km and maintains an accuracy of roughly 20 m, targeting high-value assets deep within enemy lines. [9]

Operations

Fire Point's manufacturing occurs in concealed facilities to mitigate the risk of Russian air attacks. The company employs over 500 personnel, including engineers, technicians, and support staff. It works closely with Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and domestic military research institutes on system integration and battlefield feedback loops.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 ABC News (21 August 2025). "This Ukrainian startup makes drones — and soon, cruise missiles — to strike deep inside Russia" . Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 Defense Express (20 August 2025). "Ukrainian Fire Point FP-5 Flamingo in Detail: Warhead From the U.S., Possibly Bunker-Buster, and Ballistic Missile Body" . Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. Kullab, Samya; Lukatsky, Efrem. "A Ukrainian startup develops long-range drones and missiles to take the battle to Russia". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  4. 1 2 "Exclusive: Maker of Ukraine's new Flamingo cruise missile facing corruption probe". The Kyiv Independent. 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  5. "Ukraine's anti-corruption agency investigates Flamingo missile producer – Kyiv Independent". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  6. "NABU denies information about investigation into Fire Point's Flamingo cruise missile | Ukrainian news". ukranews.com. 2025-08-30. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  7. "FSS Facility in Crimea Hit by Flamingo Missiles, Not Neptune — Sources". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  8. Siemaszko, Corky (30 August 2025). "Ukraine's New 'Flamingo' Missile Strikes Russian Facility in Crimea: Report". Newsweek. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Ukrainian firm unveils new FP-7, FP-9 ballistic missiles, air defense systems". The Kyiv Independent. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Manufacturer of Flamingo announced the development of its own ballistic missiles FP-7 and FP-9". Ukrainian National News. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "Ukraine's Fire Point unveils FP-7 and FP-9 ballistic missiles, building on Flamingo success". United24 Media. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.