EU and Ukraine to develop joint anti-missile system based on Freyja project

Viktoriia Shabranska, Tetyana Vysotska - 16 September, 11:33

Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Philipp von Ditfurth / Getty Images

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU plans to work with Ukraine on an anti-missile defence system based on the Freyja project and launch a new programme for joint projects with Ukrainian companies.

Source: European Pravda, citing von der Leyen's annual address to the European Parliament on 16 September

Quote from von der Leyen: "...we would like to develop with Ukraine an affordable, modular missile-defence system. At the heart of this collaboration is the Freyja project. Here we are combining the Ukrainians' combat experience and innovativeness with Europe's technological leadership. And, of course, our substantial production capacity."

Details: Von der Leyen said Ukraine and the EU must reduce their dependence on a single common supplier – the United States.

She also added that the Freyja project is only the beginning. "More is needed. Using the remaining funds from SAFE, we will be setting up a new programme for joint projects with Ukrainian companies," von der Leyen stressed.

Background:

During 8-9 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the heads of defence companies in Norway to discuss the Freyja anti-ballistic programme.
On 8 September, Zelenskyy recalled that work is underway on the Freyja anti-ballistic programme and said he hopes that the Americans will support the programme.
On 11 September, the inaugural meeting of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance began its work in Brussels, comprising nine Ukrainian and nine European companies.

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