Ukraine intends to test radars manufactured by the Swedish concern SAAB for use with its anti-ballistic missile. This was stated by Ukraine's Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, reports UNN.
"It is important for us to create our anti-ballistic missile, where we will depend only on how much we invest in our own production. We also spoke with the company SAAB and the Minister of Defense (Sweden's Minister of Defense Pål Jonson – ed.) about certain radars from SAAB that we will test as a potential radar for use with our anti-ballistic missile," said Minister Fedorov.
Earlier, the Giraffe 8A/4A long-range ground-based air defense radars manufactured by the Swedish concern SAAB were mentioned in open sources as potentially being used in the deployment of the European anti-ballistic system FREYJA.
Anti-ballistic missile and the European missile defense system FREYJA
Ukraine has initiated the creation of an anti-ballistic system, involving European partners. The project is named FREYJA. The missile defense system will be built around the FP-7.x interceptor missile from the Ukrainian company Fire Point.
The manufacturer expects to produce the first interceptor missiles by the end of 2026. In addition, Fire Point recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the German radar manufacturer HENSOLDT. Within the project, the company will provide the system with high-tech TRML-4D radars, which will be used for detecting and tracking ballistic targets.
According to co-founder and chief designer of Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman, the company is also finalizing negotiations with one of the European manufacturers regarding the supply of an infrared homing head (IIR) for the interceptor missile. Negotiations are ongoing with another European partner regarding the integration of a radio frequency homing head (RF), which allows tracking a target by electromagnetic radiation.
Shtilerman noted that the involvement of European governments, particularly Germany, has significantly accelerated the implementation of the FREYJA project. If bureaucratic procedures in partner countries proceed quickly, the first interceptors could be ready by the end of the year.
At the same time, other components that must be provided by European partners are necessary to complete the creation of a full-fledged system. In particular, this concerns a system for real-time data transmission from the radar to the missile, as well as a command and control center.