New details about Ukrainian FP-7 and FP-9 have become known: why they are similar to S-400 missiles
New details have emerged about the Ukrainian Fire Point ballistic missiles – FP-7 and FP-9, which are set to become a key element of Ukraine’s long-range missile potential. The most noticeable is their external similarity to the Russian 48N6 missiles from the S-400 complex.
This is reported by Defense Express.
Fire Point explained: they deliberately used the shape and aerodynamic solutions of the old Soviet 48N6 missile to speed up development and minimize risks. This saved years of work. At the same time, the Ukrainian FP-7 and FP-9 have a fully composite body and a completely different control and guidance system.
Thanks to its lighter design, the Ukrainian missiles have a longer range and better characteristics than the Russian prototype. According to preliminary data, the FP-7 can hit targets at a range of over 200 km and carries a warhead of up to 150 kg.
Ukrainian company Fire Point confirmed that the FP-7 should undergo codification by the end of the year, and the FP-9 – after it. This opens up the possibility of transferring the missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The publication of official images immediately raised a logical question: why do the FP-7 and FP-9 resemble the 48N6 so much? The company answered as directly as possible – these are “ clone missiles” , but with fundamentally different systems.
Fire Point engineers did not copy everything in a row. They deliberately borrowed only aerodynamic solutions and the general control scheme , which Russian, and in fact Soviet developers, had been working on for decades. This made it possible to save time on the most complex calculations. All flight control systems, guidance, electronics and software – Ukrainian and modern .
Fire Point separately emphasized: Ukrainian missiles have a fully composite design , thanks to which they are lighter and able to fly further than the Soviet 48N6. And although the external “silhouette” solution is similar, the internal filling of the FP-7 and FP-9 is significantly different.
For comparison:
- 48N6 – a Soviet missile from the 1980s, adopted for service in 1990, has a length of 7.5 meters, a launch weight of 1900 kg and accelerates to 1900–2100 m/s.
- The FP-7 claims a range of over 200 km, a warhead of up to 150 kg, a maximum speed of about 1,500 m/s and an average speed of 800 m/s. The difference in speed is explained by the different solid fuel and engine operating time.
- The FP-9 has a claimed range of up to 855 km – effectively a strategic-class missile.
Experts note that copying the enemy’s successful solutions is not weakness, but pragmatic engineering logic. Russia itself uses the 48N6 to strike Ukrainian cities, and repeating its shape allows you to reduce the years of development. Moreover, Fire Point reserves its own innovations – from composites to electronics.
In general, the Ukrainian FP-7 and FP-9 repeat the aerodynamic profile of the 48N6, but are completely new missiles created for Ukrainian combat missions.
It was previously reported that the Fire Point company plans to transfer its serial FP-7 ballistic missile to the Ukrainian army this year.
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