Zelenskyy is convinced that Russia will obstruct the creation of the FREYJA anti-ballistic defense system

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Russia will do everything to delay the unification of powerful defense companies in the work on the FREYJA anti-ballistic shield, writes UNN.

FREYJA, according to the President, is the first track in the Anti-Ballistic Coalition, which, recall, in addition to Ukraine, already includes 9 other European countries and 12 defense companies.

We must all reckon with Europe and must understand that there is a market. And it is very serious, a multi-billion dollar miltech market. We understand that we are creating not only protection for Europe, but also a competitor for someone. There are companies: Saab in Sweden, German companies, there is Lockheed Martin and Raytheon in the United States, there is Leonardo, a very strong Italian company. We need not competitors, but those who will strengthen us and bring us closer. When we say "systemic steps", politics is very important here. The "Russians" will do everything to throw some "nastiness" into this process in order to delay the unification of these strongest companies that have such a prospect of having their own system 

Zelenskyy emphasized the openness of the project, which new partners can join.

This should be our anti-ballistic system, open to European partners who helped us during this war and all challenges. We have missiles, we have a launcher, we lack some details. We have gathered partner countries that have one or another element we need. We are open to partners. We will need both very important parts of this system and funding. Those countries that do not have the appropriate production capabilities but today have Patriot missiles and are transferring them, investing these missiles in our ability to protect our sky, we gladly welcome them to this Anti-Ballistic Coalition 

Recall

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that within a year it will be possible to see the use of the FREYJA anti-ballistic shield. According to the concept of Fire Point, which is the developer of FREYJA, the anti-ballistic system should become a more affordable alternative to the American Patriot air defense system. This interceptor costs without a "seeker", i.e., a homing head, half a million dollars, and with a "seeker" it will cost 750-800 thousand, compared to several million dollars for the American counterpart. 

From European partners, Ukraine expects technological support, in particular modern radars, sensors, guidance systems, and electronics. The project has already been joined by defense companies HENSOLDT, Thales, Diehl Defence, Saab, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Weibel, Leonardo, MBDA, Eurosam, Safran, and Destinus.

The concept of the air defense system is similar to a construction set, because it is created on the principle of open architecture, which allows integrating components from different manufacturers into it.