Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky met Norway’s prime minister and senior defence‑industry leaders on September 9 to press ahead with the multinational FREYJA anti‑ballistic programme and said he expects first practical results.
- Meeting attendees agreed on a clear division of tasks between governments and manufacturers, with firms such as FirePoint, Kongsberg, Weibel, Saab, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Thales, Safran, Sener and Leonardo asked to define technical deliverables.
- The push is driven by a persistent shortage of interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s MIM‑104 Patriot batteries, which has reduced the country’s ability to shoot down ballistic or quasi‑ballistic threats like Iskander‑M, Kinzhal and Zircon.
- Ukraine says it already has the scientific base and aims to reach concrete development milestones for domestic ballistics and an anti‑ballistic system in 2026–2027.
- FREYJA builds on the July 13 Anti‑Ballistic Coalition declaration from the Paris 'Coalition of the Willing' summit and could change how European states share air‑defence roles, procurement and industrial work going forward.