Ukrainian company develops a budget-friendly alternative to the Patriot — Reuters
Fire Point, known as the manufacturer of the Ukrainian-made "Flamingo" cruise missile, has initiated talks with leading European defense companies.
This was reported by Reuters.
The goal of the collaboration is to create a new air defense system capable of effectively destroying ballistic missiles at a significantly lower cost than American Patriot systems.
The main objective of the project is to radically reduce the cost per interception. The developers aim to achieve a figure of less than $1 million, which would significantly optimize the cost of air defense in the context of a protracted war.
Today, Ukraine and its Western allies are critically dependent on Patriot systems, yet acquiring them is becoming an increasingly difficult process.
The shortage is exacerbated by heightened activity in the Persian Gulf, where these systems are deployed to defend against Iranian threats.
Fire Point co-founder and chief designer Denis Shтилиерман explained the economic challenges of using current solutions.
To ensure the destruction of a single ballistic target, it is often necessary to launch two or three Patriot missiles, each costing several million dollars.
“If we manage to reduce this cost to less than $1 million, it will be a breakthrough in air defense solutions. We plan to intercept the first ballistic missile by the end of 2027,” Denis Shтилиерман emphasized in a comment to Reuters.
The Ukrainian side is showing deep interest in European technologies in the fields of radar, guidance systems, and communications.
Since the company lacks its own experience in these specific areas, engaging foreign partners is critical to the project’s success.
Among potential partners with powerful technological solutions, giants such as Hensoldt, SAAB, Thales, and Weibel are being considered. The use of their radars in combination with Ukrainian developments could create a unique defense product.
As a reminder, Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of the Ukrainian company Fire Point.
Fire Point has developed a missile capable of reaching Moscow and St. Petersburg this month.
