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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Ukrainian drone and missile manufacturer Fire Point has already signed agreements with 13 European defense companies for the supply of radars, guidance systems, and other components for a prospective anti-missile system, Freyja. The company has moved to the most difficult stage — integrating all elements of the complex, Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh told Reuters. The Freyja project was officially presented in July in Paris. Ten countries’ governments and 12 defense companies have already joined, including Eurosam and Leonardo. The initiative was launched amid a sharp need for Ukraine to have its own ballistic missile interception means, since currently Patriot systems are used for this, with a missile shortage exacerbated by the Israel-Iran conflict. According to Terekh, Fire Point hopes to conduct the first successful interception of a ballistic target by mid 2027 year. The Ukrainian company is creating a new interceptor FP7 for Freyja — X, an upgraded and faster version of the FP7 missile. It is now being integrated with guidance systems, detection and tracking radars. The complex’s command center is being developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg. According to industry publications, German Diehl Defence, the IRIS-T system’s manufacturer, is to supply the guidance head. The company confirmed talks with Fire Point but did not disclose details. Fire Point expects that one interceptor missile will cost less than 1 million euros, roughly 4−6 times cheaper than a Patriot missile. Terek noted that the company is trying to implement a program that usually lasts 20−30 years in just a few years. The interceptor has already undergone at least five tests. Freyja will have an open architecture that allows components from different manufacturers to be used. For example, one type of radar can be replaced with another without changing the entire system. Fire Point expects the number of industrial partners to grow to about 20, enabling scale-up of production. The company is also negotiating with Ukrainian state missile manufacturers. Development up to the creation of a minimally viable product will be financed by the participants themselves. A successful interception of a ballistic missile will be considered the result. According to Terekh, the launch unit will house four to six missiles. Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies expert Fabian Hoffmann noted that to meet industry standards, each interceptor must provide about 40% probability of hit. If the stated cost of less than 1 million euros is confirmed, it will be a very cheap and at the same time impressive solution. In addition to the interceptor version, Fire Point has developed a strike modification of the FP7 rocket for striking ground targets. It has already undergone about 15 test launches and is now completing certification with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which, according to the company, will take another two to four weeks. The first combat applications of the FP7 are expected at the beginning of autumn, and in autumn they also plan to deploy the much larger ballistic missile FP9, which, according to the company, is capable of reaching Moscow. Terek said that the FP7 architecture was based on Soviet missile developments for the C-300 and C-400 systems, but now the new Ukrainian missile has only about 20% common elements with these systems. At the same time, Fire Point co-founder Denys Shtilerman previously stated that the drawings of Soviet missiles the company received through Timur Mindich — a former business partner of President Volodymyr Zelensky who is currently hiding in Israel and a figure in corruption cases. Fire Point says it rejected his offer to buy a stake in the company. Parallel to this, Fire Point is developing its own rocket engine for the FP5 Flamingo cruise missile, which this year has already struck several important military targets in Russia. Previously the company used second-hand aviation engines, but due to their shortage it is already assembling the first ten prototypes of its own powerplant. After successful tests, rocket production of Flamingo will be significantly increased. As FACTS reported, the first strikes by Ukrainian ballistic missiles on strategic targets on Russian territory, including Moscow, could take place as early as autumn 2026, said chief designer and co-owner of Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman. He noted that the team is currently focused on bench testing of the engine, during which the strength of the structure, the effectiveness of the thermal protection coating, and the stability of all systems under maximum loads are checked.
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