Ukraine deploys FP-7 tactical ballistic missile in combat for first time, Zelenskyy says

Ukraine has deployed its FP-7 tactical ballistic missile in combat for the first time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday.

“Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile FP-7. First combat use,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. “Thank you for the result. Next - production.”

He did not say where the FP-7 had been used in combat or against what target.

Russia frequently uses ballistic missiles in strikes on Ukrainian targets, and Ukraine has viewed development of its own tactical ballistic missiles as an important element in ensuring its defense needs.

Zelenskyy praised the test results of tactical ballistic missiles earlier this year, saying they showed good potential for their use by the military.

Ukrainian military analysts describe the FP-7 as a short-range missile with a range of about 200 km (125 miles).

The missile’s manufacturer, Fire Point, says it is being developed as a ballistic interceptor within the European missile defense programme Freyja launched this year.

Ukraine wants a prototype for the Freyja European anti-ballistic system to be ready in the first half of next year, Davyd Aloian, deputy secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council said in July.

乌克兰总统泽连斯基周四表示，乌克兰已首次在实战中部署了其FP-7战术弹道导弹。

“乌克兰FP-7战术弹道导弹首次实战使用，”泽连斯基在Telegram上写道。“感谢大家的配合。下一步——量产。”

他没有透露FP-7在战斗中使用过的地点或攻击目标。

俄罗斯经常使用弹道导弹袭击乌克兰目标，而乌克兰一直将发展自己的战术弹道导弹视为确保自身国防需求的重要因素。

泽连斯基赞扬了今年早些时候战术弹道导弹的测试结果，称这些导弹展现了良好的军事应用潜力。

乌克兰军事分析人士将 FP-7 描述为射程约为 200 公里（125 英里）的短程导弹。

该导弹的制造商 Fire Point 公司表示，它正在欧洲导弹防御计划 Freyja 的框架下开发，作为弹道拦截器使用。Freyja 计划于今年启动。

乌克兰国家安全与国防委员会副秘书长达维德·阿洛扬在7月份表示，乌克兰希望弗雷娅欧洲反弹道导弹系统的原型机能在明年上半年准备就绪。