Ukraine wants a prototype of a European missile defence system codenamed Freya to be ready in the first half of 2027.
Reuters reports, citing Davyd Aloyan, deputy secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, who oversees the Freya project.
He said the first meeting of the international steering committee tasked with assessing research and development costs under the project is expected to take place soon.
Leaders of 10 European countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as about a dozen defence manufacturers, gathered at a summit in Paris two weeks ago to officially launch a missile defence coalition.
“Because we are working under such tight deadlines, we have an ambitious goal: to have a minimum viable product (minimum viable product — MVP) ready by the first half of next year,” Aloyan said.
“This is a prototype that can already demonstrate its first practical results,” he added.
Ukraine is critically dependent on U.S.-made Patriot air defence systems, the only weapon in its arsenal capable of reliably intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
Deliveries of Patriot systems are complicated by political instability, limited stockpiles, and a long production cycle. This month, Russia intensified its ballistic strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding Region and on Odesa, the southern port hub. Ukraine was unable to intercept most of the missiles due to a shortage of interceptors.
Ukraine is ready to provide launchers and interceptor missiles for the Freya project. Zelenskyy said this month that all that remains is testing. He hopes the system will be operational within a year.
Kyiv expects technologies from its allies—advanced radars, sensors, and expertise in guidance electronics and missile control. Defence companies that have already joined the project include Eurosam (maker of the SAMP-T system), Leonardo, Thales, and Saab.
Ukrainian missile and drone manufacturer Fire Point, which developed the Flamingo cruise missile, said it will be the lead industrial partner in the project. Last month, the company announced an agreement with German defence manufacturer Hensoldt to supply radars for the project.
- Freya is a joint project of Ukraine and eight European countries aimed at creating their own anti-ballistic weapon. It is intended to be an analogue of the Patriot, but cheaper and more widely deployable.
- If the project succeeds, Ukraine will be able to protect its own skies independently and help its partners.
- Launchers and missiles for the project will be produced by the Ukrainian company Fire Point, while European partners will help with radars and other necessary components.