Engineering:Fire Point FP-1
| FP-1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Loitering munition / One-way attack drone |
| Place of origin | Ukraine |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024–present |
| Used by | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Wars | Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Fire Point |
| Designed | 2022–2024 |
| Manufacturer | Fire Point |
| Unit cost | US$55,000 |
| Produced | October 2024–present |
| No. built | 5,000+ |
| Variants | FPV carrier (dual wing-mounted FPV drones) |
| Specifications | |
| Effective firing range | 1,600 km (990 mi) |
| Warhead | Modular (Fragmentation or shaped-charge) |
| Warhead weight | 60 kg to 120 kg |
| Armour | Radar-absorbent materials |
Main armament | Integral warhead |
Secondary armament | 2 × deployable FPV drones (optional) |
| Engine | Two-cylinder engine |
| Payload capacity | 120 kg |
| Wingspan | Fixed straight wings |
| Propellant | Solid rocket booster (launch) |
Operational range | 1,600 km |
| Boost time | Solid rocket |
Guidance system | Inertial and satellite guidance with ECCM |
FP-1 is a Ukrainian long-range, one-way attack drone developed and produced by the defence technology company Fire Point. Introduced in late 2024 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FP-1 is designed for deep-strike missions, capable of delivering a warhead over distances up to 1,600 km. It has been deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to target high-value military and logistical sites.[1][2][3]
Development
Conceived in mid-2022 by a team of former aerospace engineers and defence analysts, the FP-1 programme aimed to produce a low-cost, high-performance one-way attack drone. Initial operational prototypes of the FP-1 drone flew in early 2024, demonstrating a loitering munition delivery system.[4] Full-scale production commenced in October 2024 at covert facilities near Kyiv.[2]
Design
The FP-1 features a slender fuselage with a two-cylinder engine driving a propeller, a solid rocket booster for launching, and fixed straight wings.[4][5] It carries a modular warhead weighing between 60 kg and 120 kg, selectable for fragmentation or shaped-charge effects. The airframe employs radar-absorbent materials to reduce detectability. Navigation relies on inertial systems augmented by satellite guidance, with electronic counter-countermeasure capabilities to resist jamming.[4]
Operational history
By mid-2025, Fire Point had scaled production from 30 to over 100 FP-1 units per day, reporting total manufacture of more than 5,000 drones. The UAV has been credited with striking ammunition depots, command posts, and air defence batteries at ranges exceeding 1,200 km. Analysts attribute Ukraine's ability to disrupt rear-area logistics to the FP-1's cost-effectiveness — estimated at US$55,000 per unit versus US$200,000 for comparable systems.[1][3] Recent capability expansions include carrying two deployable FPV drones on the wings.
On 12 May 2026, a Ukrainian FP-1/2 attacked an air defence system, in Crimea, using unguided missiles for the first time. According to the Russian Telegram channel, footage showed it launching one of four missiles attached to its wings.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Labott, Elisabeth (21 August 2025). "Ukraine becoming the 'Silicon Valley' of defense as startups develop long-range drones and missiles". PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ukraine-becoming-the-silicon-valley-of-defense-as-startups-develop-long-range-drones-and-missiles. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Petriv, Liubava (20 August 2025). "FP-1 vs Shahed: Ukraine Ramps Up Production of Low-Cost Long-Range Drones". United24 Media. https://united24media.com/latest-news/fp-1-vs-shahed-ukraine-ramps-up-production-of-low-cost-long-range-drones-10973. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pokotylo, Olha (8 May 2025). "What's known about Ukraine's FP-1 deep strike drone". https://thedefender.media/en/2025/05/fp-1-long-distance-strike-drone/. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Ukraine’s FP-1 OWA Drone is Cheaper Than Shahed, and Is Now Produced Just as Fast". 22 August 2025. https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/ukraines_fp_1_owa_drone_is_cheaper_than_shahed_and_is_now_produced_just_as_fast_heres_why-15576.html.
- ↑ "FP-1 Deepstrike Drones Scale Up in Number and Break Through Moscow Defenses, Ukraine's Attack on Krasnozavodsk Shows" (in en). https://en.defence-ua.com/news/fp_1_deepstrike_drones_scale_up_in_number_and_break_through_moscow_defenses_ukraines_attack_on_chem_plant_in_krasnozavodsk_shows-15063.html.
- ↑ Taras Safronov (2026-05-13). "Drone Launched Missiles at Russian Mobile Air Defense Unit In Crimea". https://militarnyi.com/en/news/drone-missiles-russian-air-defense-crimea/.
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