Zelenskyy urged Europe to urgently create its own missile defense
Kyiv • UNN
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the need for Europe to create its own missile defense systems. He emphasized that ballistic missiles remain Russia's main advantage.
Europe needs to create its own ballistic missile defense systems and establish production of interceptor missiles as soon as possible. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO Defense Industries Forum, reports UNN.
According to him, ballistic missiles remain one of Russia's main advantages.
"Europe urgently needs its own capabilities to produce missile defense systems and the missiles required for them. This is one of the biggest challenges, as ballistic missiles remain Russia's last major advantage," the President emphasized.
Anti-ballistic missile and the European missile defense system FREYJA
Ukraine has initiated the creation of an anti-ballistic missile system, involving European partners. The project is named FREYJA. The missile defense system will be based on 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 imaging seeker (IIR) for the interceptor missile. Negotiations are ongoing with another European partner regarding the integration of a radio frequency seeker (RF), which allows tracking the 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 are needed to complete the creation of a full-fledged system, which must be provided by European partners. 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.