Fire Point FP-1 Drone (Long-Range Attack UAV)This drone is designed for deep-strike missions against high-value military and logistical targets.2
| Specification | Details | | Type | Long-range, One-Way Attack (Kamikaze) UAV | | Origin | Ukraine (Developed by Fire Point) | | Max Range | Up to 1,600 km | | Warhead Mass | Modular, typically 60 kg to 120 kg | | Warhead Type | Selectable for fragmentation or shaped-charge effects | | Propulsion | Two-cylinder engine driving a propeller | | Launch System | Sloped ramp with a solid rocket booster (no wheeled landing gear) | | Cost (Estimated) | ~$55,000 USD per unit | | Airframe | Slender fuselage, fixed straight wings, employs radar-absorbent materials | | Navigation | Inertial systems augmented by satellite guidance, with electronic counter-countermeasure capabilities (anti-jamming) |
...this is a great weapon....with anti jamming capability......as noted by Ukraine itself
...note 60kg at 1600km and 120kg at 200km......but warhead size is modular.....so any location in Crimea can be hit at ~300KM with a warhead that might be at least 100Kg.....my guess is Ukraine has multiple warhead sizes available (60kg / 80kg / 100kg /120kg) to maximize the kaboom for the range of a particular target .......Ukraine needs to launch >200 of these a night....cost is very similar to piston engine Shahed and the Shahed has similar warhead size vs range.......the difference here may be the ability to shoot down a high percentage of drones.........I doubt Russia comes close to Ukraine's ability to shoot them down.....so 200 per night from Ukraine might be equivalent to 500 per night from Russia....production needs to double to 6000 FP1 per month
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That is an ambitious goal, but one that aligns with Ukraine's stated push for massive scale-up in drone production.
While the current reliable estimate for the Fire Point FP-1 is ˜3,000 units per month, Ukraine's broader defense industry capacity and political focus suggest that scaling production to 6,000 long-range drones per month is likely feasible, though it would require a significant, sustained investment.
Here is the breakdown of the current capacity and the factors needed to double the rate:
1. Current Capacity and Goals
| Metric | Details | | Current FP-1 Rate | ˜3,000 units per month (or ˜100 per day). This matches Russia's estimated Shahed output. | | Overall Goal | President Zelenskyy has stated Ukraine aims to produce 30,000 long-range drones in 2025, which averages to 2,500 per month across all long-range models (FP-1, Lyutyi, etc.). | | Total Drone Capacity | Ukraine's defense industry claims a total theoretical capacity of producing millions of drones per year, with a strong focus on FPV drones (aiming for over 2 million in 2025). |
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2. Factors Supporting a 6,000/Month RateThe low-cost, modular design of the FP-1 makes it an ideal candidate for rapid scaling:
- Plywood Construction: The use of simple, easily acquired, and CNC-cut materials like plywood and non-metallic composites allows for production to be distributed across many small, covert workshops, mitigating the risk of Russian strikes and allowing for high-volume manufacturing.
- Decentralized Model: The entire Ukrainian drone industry operates on a decentralized, private-sector model that is inherently flexible and scalable. With proper funding, new production lines can be rapidly established.
- Government Funding & Priority: The Ukrainian government has allocated record funds for domestic drone procurement, making this a top strategic priority. Funding is often the primary bottleneck, and if dedicated funds for the FP-1 alone were doubled, the output could feasibly double.
- Ease of Assembly: The FP-1 is designed to be assembled quickly, reportedly more like a hobby project than a complex weapon system, which minimizes the need for highly specialized factories or skilled labor.
3. Potential BottlenecksThe primary challenges to reaching 6,000 per month would likely be:
- Engine Procurement: The FP-1 uses a simple piston engine (similar to a chain saw). While readily available, acquiring thousands of these reliable engines and associated components (propellers, fuel systems) every month at that volume could become a supply chain challenge.
- Navigation Components: The critical components for the advanced Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and custom anti-jamming GNSS receivers are more complex. Sourcing these high-tech components reliably for 6,000 units per month, while under war conditions, would be difficult.
- Financial Constraint: Even at $55,000 per unit, 6,000 drones per month would cost ˜$330 million USD monthly, or almost $4 Billion USD annually. Securing this level of sustained, dedicated funding, even with Western support, is a massive undertaking.
In conclusion, the technical and structural capacity is likely there to achieve 6,000 units per month for the FP-1 due to its simplicity. The limiting factor is primarily the funding and the high-tech supply chain for key navigation components.
Would you like to compare the FP-1's range with that of Ukraine's other long-range strike drones, such as the Lyutyi or the new FP-5 cruise missile? |
