Ukrainian defence company Fire Point says it has launched its own satellites and is rapidly expanding missile and drone production to reduce Ukraine’s dependence on American technology and Western suppliers.
Financial Times reported this.
Details
According to Fire Point co-founder and chief designer Denys Shtilerman, the company has already launched two satellites into orbit this year. It also plans to launch “dozens” more by 2027. Fire Point is also developing a European air defence shield and new missile systems.
Shtilerman said the company’s main goal is not only to sell weapons but also to ensure “security independence.” FT noted that Ukraine accelerated the development of its own defence technologies after the temporary suspension of intelligence sharing with the United States and amid dependence on Starlink systems.
The company specializes in long-range drones and cruise missiles. According to the developers, the FP-5 Flamingo missile has a range of up to 3,000 km. Fire Point says it can produce around 200 such missiles per month. The company is also testing FP-7 and FP-9 ballistic missiles with ranges of 300 km and 850 km respectively.
Financial Times noted that European countries are showing growing interest in Ukrainian weapons because they cost less than many Western alternatives. According to Shtilerman, Germany already purchases FP-1 and FP-2 drones for Ukraine. Berlin is also studying the possible use of the Flamingo missile as an alternative to American Tomahawk missiles.
At the same time, Fire Point’s rapid expansion has drawn the attention of anti-corruption investigators. Authorities suspect company executives of using political connections to secure major contracts. Shtilerman denies all allegations and says the scandal only harms Ukraine’s defence sector.
Context
Earlier, Ukraine and Germany reached agreements to expand cooperation in air defence and accelerate the development of systems designed to intercept ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also signed a joint declaration on strengthening defence and security cooperation.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Ukraine and Lithuania agreed to cooperate under the Drone Deal format — a bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening the defence capabilities of both countries.
