In the Freya project, the hardest part right now is motivating European partners to get more actively involved - expert

The flight test demonstration of the FP-7.x missile confirmed the missile's ability to perform maneuvers necessary for intercepting ballistic missiles, and thus, that this missile can become the basis for the Freya project—a pan-European anti-ballistic shield. According to Anton Zemlyanyi, a senior analyst at the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, the most difficult part at this stage is motivating European partners to participate more actively in the project's implementation, UNN reports. 

Tests confirmed the missile's maneuverability 

"In fact, this time we were shown that the missile can and does have maneuverability, and can intercept aerial ballistic targets. That is, the most important thing in this video is that the missile had a given trajectory and could perform maneuvers in flight, which, in fact, significantly help in hitting anti-ballistic missiles—those that fly along a quasi-trajectory and can perform maneuvers in the final stage of their flight. This is very important: the missile doesn't just fly somewhere toward a target; it's about hit-to-kill (kinetic interception - ed.), meaning hitting the enemy ballistic missile itself and thus knocking it off course. And this is exactly the most important thing that was demonstrated to us in the latest video," Zemlyanyi explained on Kyiv24, commenting on the video demonstrating the launch and flight of the FP-7.x missile.  

Now it's up to the European partners 

Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden have already confirmed their participation in the Freya project. In addition to the FP-7.x missile, the anti-ballistic shield will include elements such as a command post, long-range early warning radars, and illumination and guidance radars. Most of these elements are already successfully produced by European companies.  

"The hardest part now is to motivate partners to get more actively involved in this process and, in fact, to overcome obstacles regarding the unification of all, so to speak, key links in this project. Yes, that is, right now there is talk that there are certain delays or even, to some extent, obstacles from European partners or simply companies in Europe regarding the creation of this complex," noted Anton Zemlyanyi. 

Immediately after the successful test, Denys Shtilerman, co-founder and chief designer of Fire Point—the missile's manufacturer—also called on Europe for more active action. 

"I want the Europeans to start moving very quickly. If everything moves fast, we will be able to make the first interceptions as early as this year. I'm not asking them to run like we do—where you get permission from top officials the next day. But if everything happens as is usual for Europe—where you have to spend 8-9 months to get one permit—unfortunately, nothing will happen," Shtilerman stated.

What is Freya 

The Freya Project is a pan-European anti-ballistic shield being developed by the Ukrainian company Fire Point in cooperation with Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden. In fact, it is an attempt to create a cheaper and sovereign analog of the American Patriot air defense system, without dependence on external control.

The system's main weapon is the FP-7.x interceptor missile: length 7.25 m, speed 1500-2000 m/s. According to the developers' plan, it will be capable of intercepting Iskander-class ballistic missiles. The use of composite materials allows for a significant reduction in the weight and cost of the product, while the Image Infra-Red seeker is intended to ensure resistance to thermal flares and high precision in hitting targets.

A key feature of Freya is its so-called open architecture. This means that no manufacturer or supplier country will be able to remotely shut down the system. According to him, Ukraine is selling not only security but also the independence of that security.

"Any buyer, any country that purchases it, will be confident that neither the manufacturer nor the selling country will ever be able to disable this system," Shtilerman emphasized regarding the system's advantages.

A single ballistic missile interception by the Patriot system costs at least $6 million. Shtilerman sets a target goal of staying under $1 million, and ideally down to $500,000. A launcher for four missiles, according to the developer's estimate, will cost about $150,000.

"The system will be cheap, it will be battle-proof. As soon as we start intercepting Iskanders and Kinzhals flying into Ukraine, we will be able to supply it very quickly to a large number of countries," Denys Shtilerman predicts.

Experts are already confirming the full feasibility of such a project, which is capable of significantly influencing the balance of power.