Nine European nations join Ukraine to develop Freyja anti-ballistic missile system within a year

KYIV, Ukraine — Nine nations have joined Ukraine in a new anti-ballistic coalition aimed at accelerating production of Ukraine's Freyja interceptor system and achieving operational capability within a year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday at a meeting of defense allies in France.

Zelenskyy first outlined the coalition plan at last week's NATO summit in Ankara, where U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to allow Ukraine to build its own Patriot interceptors, acknowledging that Ukraine is "a country that is ready to do this."

The initiative responds to a global shortage of anti-ballistic interceptors, driven by the ongoing war in Iran and neighboring countries—now in its fifth month—and heightened demand from allied partners worldwide seeking to replenish defensive weapons stocks.

Founding Members

Nine European countries joined Ukraine as founding members in Paris:

• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Spain
• Sweden
• The United Kingdom

Joint Statement

"We believe that the protection of Europe requires a global solution of integrated missile defence architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats—developed through collective effort, technological openness, and trusted industrial cooperation," officials wrote in the joint statement formalizing the coalition.

"By bringing together our defence industrial base, our research, and our operational experience, we aim to build a shared antiballistic missile capacity for Europe and support relevant contributory activities. We do this not against any people, but in defence of our own," the signatories said.

Strategic Context

Although the United States has increased Patriot output and Europe has expanded production of the SAMP/T, IRIS-T, and NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems, the gap between demand and supply remains wide.

For Ukraine, gaining antiballistic capabilities would enable better protection of its cities and frontlines—both increasingly targeted by Russian ballistic missiles that cannot be intercepted by standard air defenses—and reduce dependence on allied support for this type of protection.

For Europe, the coalition offers a fast-tracked path to resolving weapons shortages, strengthening defenses at reduced cost, and leveraging battlefield expertise Ukraine has gained over years of full-scale war.

Priorities and Governance

The group's current priorities are to:

• Establish common operational requirements
• Form joint technical working groups
• Develop clear governance mechanisms
• Create a roadmap toward the coalition's first operational capabilities

Zelenskyy's Remarks

In social media statements Monday, Zelenskyy explained why Kyiv and Europe need their own anti-ballistic system:

"The threat of ballistic missiles in the world is only going to increase. This is one of the main consequences of the wars in Russia and Iran. Therefore, FREYJA must become a reality."

Ukraine will lead the project, supplying the interceptor itself, while partners will provide the radar, tracking, and command-and-control systems Ukraine lacks, Zelenskyy said last week.

"Europe needs more protection against ballistic threats. Together, we can create such a system. It is important to politically confirm that FREYJA is our joint project, serving the interests of all of Europe."

Industry Participation

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa also attended Monday's meeting in Paris, alongside representatives from several European defense companies, including:

• Destinus
• Diehl Defence
• Eurosam
• Fire Point
• HENSOLDT
• Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
• Leonardo
• MBDA
• Saab
• Safran
• Thales
• Weibel Scientific

"Everyone present here is a vital part of what we need to create this system," Zelenskyy said. "I am grateful to the companies for their willingness to work together."

Autonomy and Next Steps

Although the partnership's operational details are still being developed, each country in the coalition will retain a certain degree of autonomy, Zelenskyy confirmed. "Europeans themselves will be able to decide how many systems Euro..."