Zelenskyy expects European anti-ballistic missile system to be ready in a year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism that a new European anti-ballistic missile system, dubbed Freyja, could be operational within a year. He announced this following the inaugural meeting of the Ballistic Coalition in Paris, an initiative involving Ukraine and nine European countries.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine possesses the missile component for Freyja, but it requires integration into a larger system. He envisions this new technology, designed to lessen Europe's dependence on American air defense, being produced on a massive scale to safeguard the entire continent. The development involves a partnership between Ukraine's Fire Point, which provides the missile, and Germany's Hensoldt, responsible for the radar.

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We in Ukraine have the missile, but this is only one part of the system.

The Ballistic Coalition includes Ukraine, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Spain. Both NATO and the European Union are also participating in the project. Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine's current vulnerability due to a significant deficit of interceptor missiles for its U.S.-supplied Patriot systems, which are crucial for defense against ballistic missiles.

Additionally, Zelenskyy thanked France for granting Ukraine licenses to produce AASM guided bombs and long-range Aster 30 and Scalp missiles. This follows a recent announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding similar licensing for Ukraine to manufacture Patriot system missiles.

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we hope that the new anti-ballistic missile defense system that Ukraine and nine European countries participating in the initiative have committed to developing can be used in a year.