Kyiv seeks allied support to develop Freyja anti-ballistic shield
KYIV: Ukraine aims to complete a prototype of its proposed European anti-ballistic missile defence system, codenamed Freyja, during the first half of next year as it works with European partners to strengthen protection against Russian missile attacks.
Davyd Aloian, deputy secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council and the official overseeing the project, said an international steering committee would soon hold its first meeting to assess research and development costs.
The initiative was formally launched at a summit in Paris two weeks ago, where leaders from 10 European countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, joined representatives from around a dozen defence companies.
Aloian said the project had an ambitious timetable, with developers aiming to produce a minimum viable prototype capable of demonstrating practical results within the first half of next year.
Project focuses on reducing dependence
Ukraine currently relies heavily on US-made Patriot air defence systems, which Kyiv considers its most effective capability against Russian ballistic missiles. However, officials have said limited supplies, lengthy production times and political uncertainty have affected the availability of additional systems.
According to Ukrainian officials, Kyiv is prepared to contribute a launcher and an interceptor missile to the Freyja project, while partner nations are expected to provide technologies including advanced radars, sensors and missile guidance systems.
Companies participating in the initiative include Eurosam, Leonardo, Thales, Saab and Ukrainian defence manufacturer Fire Point, which recently announced a radar partnership with Germany’s Hensoldt.
Coalition promotes flexible design
Officials said Freyja is intended to provide a lower-cost alternative to existing missile defence systems while allowing participating countries to integrate domestically produced components.
Aloian described the project as an open-architecture system, enabling countries to select compatible equipment from different manufacturers without affecting overall performance.
He added that coalition members are considering establishing a dedicated funding mechanism to coordinate financial contributions and support long-term development.
Ukrainian officials also hope direct participation by defence companies alongside governments will accelerate progress by reducing administrative delays.
The project remains in its early stages, with participating countries and industry partners continuing discussions on technical specifications, financing arrangements and future production plans.
