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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the launch of Freya, a new anti-ballistic air defense project being developed jointly by Ukraine and its European partners. The system is intended to provide a more affordable alternative to the Patriot air defense system, Zelenskyy said while speaking to journalists after the NATO summit, according to Suspilne.
Under the project, Ukraine will develop the interceptor missile, while European partners will provide radar systems, command-and-control technology, and other critical components. Eight European countries are expected to participate in the initiative.
Zelenskyy said the first official meeting involving government leaders, defense companies, and manufacturers will take place in France in the near future, where the project will be formally presented.
The president also announced that Ukraine expects to receive a new shipment of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems from the United States within the coming days. In addition, he said Ukraine and the US have agreed to conduct trials of maritime and aerial drones, after which the two countries plan to conclude a Drone Deal.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine currently has a "window of opportunity" because it has become stronger both on the battlefield and in the air. He added that Russia's main military advantage now lies in its ballistic missile capabilities, while the number of countries openly supporting Ukraine's future NATO membership continues to grow.
Freya project
The Freya project has been under development for several months. In May, Denys Shtilerman, co-founder of the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, said the system had already entered prototype testing as a pan-European anti-ballistic shield designed to offer a lower-cost alternative to Patriot systems.
At that stage, Germany, France, and Norway were already involved in the project, with the primary objective of significantly reducing the cost of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Fire Point later announced successful tests of its FP-7.x interceptor missile, which is expected to become the core of the Freya system. The company also reached an agreement with German defense technology company Hensoldt to supply radar systems for the future air defense platform.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine needs its own capabilities to counter ballistic missile threats and accelerate the development of its domestic missile industry. Earlier this month, he instructed officials to intensify work on Ukrainian ballistic missile and anti-ballistic defense programs, describing stronger air defense as one of the country's highest priorities.
