Ukraine is developing a new defense system against ballistic missiles to replace the Patriot system
The Ukrainian company Fire Point has provided an update on the development of the Freyja project, which is intended to serve as a new means of countering ballistic threats. The first tests to intercept a ballistic missile are scheduled to take place after the completion of key stages in the system’s development.
The developers note that Freyja is intended to help Ukraine reduce its dependence on expensive Patriot missile systems and strengthen its own air defense capabilities.
When Is the First Interception Expected?
Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh reported that the company plans to carry out its first successful interception of a ballistic missile by mid-2027.
According to her, 13 European industrial partners have already joined the project, and nearly all key agreements have been reached.
What stage is Freyja at?
Fire Point is integrating its own FP7.X interceptor with guidance systems and radar stations supplied by European companies.
“We are currently in the most intensive and, at the same time, the most complex stage of final assembly of all components, including surveillance radars, tracking radars, and homing heads,” said Terekh.
The Norwegian company Kongsberg is working on the system’s command center, and the German company Diehl Defence has confirmed negotiations regarding the supply of guidance systems.
How the new interceptor will differ from the Patriot
Fire Point estimates that the cost of a single interceptor will not exceed 1 million euros, which is approximately one-quarter to one-sixth of the cost of a missile for the American Patriot system.
According to Terekh, the company is attempting to implement a program that typically takes decades in just a few years. At least five tests of the interceptor missile have already been conducted.
The developers also note that Freyja’s architecture will be open, allowing individual components from different manufacturers to be replaced as needed without changing the entire system.
This was reported by Reuters.
Ukraine is developing its own anti-ballistic missile that is cheaper than the Patriot.
As a reminder, on Monday, July 28, Fire Point reported that Ukrainian FP-1 drones struck a warehouse belonging to the Russian logistics operator 3PL in the village of Koledino.
Estonian intelligence estimated Russia’s losses from the strikes on Wildberries at $2 billion.
The U.S. will increase production of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems.
