Ukraine and its European partners have established an Anti-Ballistic Coalition, which is initiating the creation of a joint anti-ballistic system called FREYJA. Prominent European defense companies are joining the project’s launch.
Ukraine and its European partners have formed an Anti-Ballistic Coalition, marking the commencement of the development of a joint anti-ballistic system, FREYJA. Ukraine’s representation in this collaborative endeavor is by the defense company Fire Point, which will contribute its own development – the ballistic interceptor missile FP-7.x. A multitude of industrial giants from European nations are expected to participate in the FREYJA initiative. The specific companies collaborating with Fire Point and their respective products are detailed in this **UNN** report.
A comprehensive air defense system requires more than just missiles; it also necessitates components such as radars, command centers, and other elements to be integrated into the unified complex. Furthermore, representatives from Fire Point have consistently stated the need for a seeker for the FP-7.x. European partners possess all these necessary components.
As explained by Denys Shtilerman, Chief Designer at Fire Point, FREYJA was conceived from the outset as a collaborative project built on an open architecture, designed to accommodate the integration of existing technological solutions.
On July 13th, representatives from defense companies were present at the signing of a joint declaration by the leaders of the participating nations of the Anti-Ballistic Coalition. At that time, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy named the following companies: HENSOLDT, Thales, Diehl Defence, Saab, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Weibel, Leonardo, MBDA, Eurosam, Safran, and Destinus.
Radars from Hensoldt
The German company Hensoldt is a leading European manufacturer of high-tech radar systems and has a long-standing partnership with Ukraine. Notably, their TRML-4D radar stations, utilized in the IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile systems, have proven highly effective in repelling Russian aerial assaults.
Back in June of this year, the German company and Fire Point inked an agreement whereby Hensoldt would join the FREYJA project and supply its radar systems. The radar systems covered by this agreement include the multi-functional TRML-4D, capable of simultaneously detecting and tracking over 1500 targets at ranges up to 250 kilometers, as well as the SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII, designed for detecting and classifying ground, sea, and low-altitude air targets.
TRML-4D radar system. Photo: Hensoldt
Thales
The French corporation Thales is a globally recognized manufacturer of electronics for the defense and aerospace sectors. Thales designs and produces a wide array of radars (including Ground Master and Ground Surveillance), sonar systems, electronic warfare systems, and optoelectronic sensors for ground, underwater, and aerial detection. Thales also boasts expertise in laser-guided missiles and is developing advanced command and fire control systems.
Thales supplies Ground Fire radars for the SAMP/T NG air defense system. This radar has a range of up to 400 km and panoramic coverage, making it a likely candidate for integration into FREYJA.
Furthermore, Thales acts as an integrator for the fire control system (Command, Control, and Fire Management System: ME-NG – Modular Engagement Next Generation), developed in partnership with MBDA.
In collaboration with another company from our list, Leonardo, the French corporation is venturing into the space domain, focusing on communication, surveillance, and navigation satellites.
Diehl Defence
Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG is a leading German manufacturer of guided missiles and munitions. This company is the producer of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile. Their product portfolio also includes the IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS ground-based air defense systems and their variants.
In April of this year, Diehl Defence signed a cooperation agreement with Fire Point. While specific details were not disclosed, it was revealed in June that the agreement pertained to the establishment of production for the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile in Germany. Additionally, the German company announced its readiness to provide Ukraine’s manufacturer with its missile seeker technology.
Saab
The Swedish manufacturer of aviation, naval, and land defense equipment, Saab, produces, among other things, Gripen fighter jets. In June 2026, a contract was signed for the production of 16 Gripen E aircraft for Ukraine. The concern also boasts 5th-generation A26 submarines, NLAW portable anti-tank systems, counter-drone solutions, and hydroacoustic systems.
Among Saab’s potential contributions to the anti-ballistic shield project are the Giraffe radars, particularly the Giraffe 75 and Giraffe Mk IV – powerful multi-functional radars providing early threat detection, as well as combat management systems.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
The Norwegian manufacturer of missile and air defense systems, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, in collaboration with Raytheon/RTX (USA), developed the NASAMS air defense system, which is operational in over a dozen countries. The concern also manufactures the JSM missile, designed for integration with F-35 fighter jets.
Publicly available information indicates that the command posts for FREYJA can be deployed based on the Kongsberg Fire Distribution Center complex.
Weibel
The Danish company Weibel characterizes itself as a global specialist in Doppler radar technology. Their arsenal includes X-band tracking radars (XENTA series) for detecting and classifying drones, shells, missiles, and helicopters; XENTA-C radars for border and critical infrastructure counter-drone protection; and GFTR series radars for illumination and guidance. Potentially, the Weibel GFTR-2100/48 radar could be integrated into the anti-ballistic system.
Leonardo
The Italian concern Leonardo possesses a substantial portfolio of defense products, including helicopters used in over 130 countries, as well as radars, cannons, munitions, electronic warfare systems, and optoelectronic systems. This concern is also advancing its capabilities in the space sector, notably in partnership with the aforementioned company Thales.
MBDA
The multinational corporation MBDA (France/United Kingdom/Italy/Germany) is the largest European manufacturer of guided missiles. This joint venture is responsible for the production of the well-known Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles. MBDA’s portfolio also includes air-to-air missiles such as Meteor; surface-to-air missiles like Aster 15/30 (for SAMP/T), Mistral, and CAMM; as well as anti-ship missiles.
Eurosam
A joint venture between MBDA (66%) and Thales (33%), Eurosam specializes in the production of long-range air defense systems. Eurosam is the developer and manufacturer of the SAMP/T and the new-generation SAMP/T NG ground-based air defense systems, often referred to as the sole European alternative to the American Patriot system.
A notable characteristic of Eurosam’s air defense systems is their modular architecture, featuring specific modules or “building blocks” that can be combined to precisely tailor each system.
Safran
Safran, a French aerospace and defense conglomerate, is a European leader in optoelectronics and navigation. The company manufactures aviation and missile engines – propulsion systems for MBDA missiles (Mistral, SCALP, etc.). They also possess the new Land OmniGuard counter-drone system and Euroflir optoelectronic systems integrated with Bayraktar TB2 drones. The manufacturer also has its own unmanned aerial vehicle – the tactical reconnaissance drone Patroller.
Patroller UAV
Safran is among the global leaders in GNSS-independent inertial navigation. The GEONYX inertial navigation system provides stable guidance in electronic warfare and GPS jamming conditions. Production of this system has increased sevenfold since 2022.
Destinus
Destinus is a joint Swiss-Dutch enterprise that began as a manufacturer in the field of hypersonic aviation. Currently, it produces, among other things, the Ruta Block 2 cruise missile with AI guidance for operation in GPS-denied environments, the Hornet drone interceptor, and the Destinus D/E/G line of drones.
As evident, each of these companies represents a formidable player in the defense market. The involvement of such giants will enable the partner countries to deploy anti-ballistic defense, leveraging, among other things, the capabilities already present in their arsenals.