This Ukrainian startup makes drones — and soon, cruise missiles — to strike deep inside Russia
When a Ukrainian -made drone attacked an ammunition warehouse in Russia last September, he exhibited Kiev’s Deeply hitting the back of the enemy lines and the heroism of the defense industry.
To fulfill this task, more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) were particularly satisfactory for the woman responsible for production. Months later, Russia no longer had tools to keep up with Destructive slip bomb attacks It’s like targeting the native city Kharkiv.
Iryna Terekh, President of the Production in Fire Point, said, “Fighting in the air is now our only real asymmetric advantage in the battlefield. We have no manpower or money as they have.”
Terekh spoke in recently released from the assembly line to the Ukrainian forces, which will be used to attack the Kremlin’s war machine and economy of vital weapons warehouses, oil refineries and other targets.
Encouraged by Existential struggle against Russia – And limited military assistance from Western allies – Ukraine quickly became a global center Defense innovation. If the aim is not outmuscle, it is one of the companies that follow the talents of Russia and pioneer the fire point.
The Associated Press was given a special look in one of the dozens of Fire Point’s hidden factory. In a warehouse where rock music exploded, executives showed the signature FP-1 exploding drones that can travel up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). They were also announced for a cruise missile, which was the first time to travel 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) and hoped to produce series by the end of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Even like US President Donald Trump 3 Pressures for the end of the war 3 1/2 year – And the US supports support NATO -like security guarantees -Coule defense officials, their country is determined to be more sufficient in deterrence of Russia, he says.
Arsen Zhumadilov, President of the country’s arms supply agency, said, “We believe that one of our best guarantee is not to protect us, but to trust our ability to protect ourselves,” he said.
The Ukrainian government is currently buying about $ 10 billion weapons from domestic producers. Authorities say that the industry has the capacity to sell this amount, and they believe that sales to European allies can help to reach such a potential in a few years.
Drone innovation is out of necessity
Like most of the defense companies in Ukraine, Fire Point grew from the necessity after Russia’s full -scale invasion in 2022. Despite the satisfaction of Ukrainian military officials, Western countries did not want to allow Kyiv to use their long -range weapons to use their long -range weapons to hit the deep targets in the Russian region.
At that time, a group of close friends, experts from various fields, Russia’s destructive consequences of Ukraine fired Iranian -made shahed drones to match the power of cheap drones began to produce series.
The founders of the company spoke to AP about the status of anonymity due to their safety and the safety of their factories.
Construction, gaming design and architecture, bringing together information, the founders of the company without a history of defense, can fly more and more sensitivity than most products in the market has produced new designs for drones. Long -range drones had another benefit: they didn’t have to leave an airport.
When Terekh, an architect in the summer of 2023, was hired, he was given the goal of producing 30 drones per month. Now the company does about 100 a day at a cost of $ 55,000.
The FP-1 resembles a more hurried science project that will eliminate the production lines of the world’s largest defense contractors. “We removed unnecessary, flashy glittering things,” he said.
However, the FP-1 was extremely effective on the battlefield.
According to Tekh, it is responsible for 60% of the deep strikes in the Russian region, including Hitler in the Russian region, with a predicate weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds). These strikes helped to slow down the progression of Russia along the 1000 kilometers long (620 miles long) in the Eastern Ukraine, where a sharp decline in the artillery fire of the army units.
Claude Chenuil, a former French military official working for a trade group that is currently focusing on defense, said, ukrah Ukrainian drones are among the best drones or the best. ” “When the war in Ukraine ends, they will fill the market.”
Ukraine ‘Silicon Valley’ defense
Fire Point’s story is not completely unique. Shortly after Russia’s 2022 invasion, hundreds of defense companies sprouted almost overnight. The Ukrainian government encouraged innovation by relieving regulations and facilitating the work of initiatives directly with military brigades.
Patriotic entrepreneurs in the field of metallurgical, construction and information technology emphasized the drones and established facilities to investigate and investigate weapons and ammunition. The ongoing war allowed them to test ideas on the battlefield and to rapidly adapt to Russia’s changing tactics.
“Ukraine, now this very unique moment, de facto, silicone defense valley, de said Yaroslav Azhnyuk, Ukrainian defense entrepreneur. “The biggest strategic asset we have is that we have been in war with Russia for 11 years.”
In an example: Fire Point initially supplied navigation equipment for drones from a large Western company, but long ago Russia was able to break its activities using electronic war; Thus, Fire Point developed its own software to overcome the enemy.
Since defense companies are highly valuable goals for Russia, many operate underground or hidden in civil centers to avoid detection. Although it is protected by air defense, strategy has a disadvantage of risking civilians. Many Ukrainians died in uncertain Russian attacks that probably targeting arms facilities. Entrepreneurs, the alternative to operate clearly and to confront the attacks that will bring back war efforts, he said.
DRONE MATERIALS DO NOT LONG LONG
On the day when AP journalists visited the firepoint factory, there were dozens of Drones waiting for delivery. All of them would go within 72 hours, and they would be sent to the battlefield in the non -standing cargo trucks.
The firepoint team receives regular feedback from the army units and the company has re -invested the most profitable profits to quickly innovate to keep up with other drone manufacturers. Increasingly, these profits are directed to develop a new, stronger weapon.
The company completed the test this year for the first cruise missile FP-5. Independent experts, 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) travel and land in 14 meters (45 feet), the FP-5 is one of the largest missiles in the world and offers 1,150 kilograms (2,535 pounds) load. After a factory error, the first versions of the missile came to the pink, they called him Flamingo and the name was stuck.
The fire point is roughly producing a flamingo on a day and they hope to create seven capacity until October.
Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials said that even if they follow the ways to end the war, Terekh is skeptical that Russia would accept conditions for a real peace. “We are preparing for a bigger, much more frightening war.”
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Associated Press journalist Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report.
