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Ukraine’s Fire Point Unveils ‘Freya’ Air and Missile Defence Network Integrating Ukrainian Interceptors With NATO Systems

Ukraine’s Fire Point Unveils ‘Freya’ Air and Missile Defence Network Integrating Ukrainian Interceptors With NATO Systems
 

KYIV, Ukraine — May 14, 2026 : Ukrainian defence technology company Fire Point has unveiled additional details regarding “Project Freya,” a proposed pan-European integrated air and missile defence system designed to counter ballistic missile threats through a combination of Ukrainian interceptor technology and NATO-compatible European radar and command infrastructure.

The project was outlined by Fire Point co-owner and chief designer Denys Shtilerman, who described the system as an open-architecture network capable of integrating with existing European air defence assets while offering a lower-cost alternative to current Western missile defence systems.

 

FP-7.x Interceptor Forms Core of Freya System

At the centre of the project is the FP-7.x interceptor missile, developed from Fire Point’s earlier FP-7 tactical ballistic missile program. The original FP-7 was designed as a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of approximately 200–300 kilometres, carrying a 150-kilogram warhead and achieving a reported circular error probable of 14 metres.

According to Fire Point, the missile has now been adapted into an interceptor platform capable of engaging incoming ballistic threats. The company stated that the FP-7.x is constructed primarily from advanced carbon-fibre composite materials, reducing both radar visibility and manufacturing costs.

Fire Point estimates the interceptor’s cost per engagement at under $1 million, substantially below the cost of comparable Western interceptor systems such as the Patriot PAC-3.

The interceptor underwent a successful test in February 2026. Specifications released by the company show the FP-7.x measures 7.25 metres in length, with an outer diameter of 1.15 metres and a fuselage diameter of 0.53 metres. The missile uses a domestically produced solid-fuel motor and is launched through a hot-launch system from a lightweight mobile launcher developed by Fire Point.

During flight, the interceptor can reportedly achieve speeds between 1,500 and 2,000 metres per second. Fire Point compared this to the Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile, which reaches approximately 2,100 metres per second during the final stage of its active trajectory.

The company also stated that portions of the interceptor draw from technologies associated with the Soviet-era 48N6 missile used in S-300 and S-400 air defence systems, while incorporating redesigned electronics, simplified structures, and modern composite materials.

 

Guidance System and European Radar Integration

For terminal guidance, the FP-7.x is equipped with an Image Infra-Red (IIR) homing system. Fire Point additionally confirmed that, following an agreement signed in April 2026, the interceptor will also integrate semi-active seeker heads manufactured by German defence company Diehl Defence.

The Freya system is designed to operate with multiple European radar platforms. Proposed early warning radar options include the Swedish SAAB Giraffe 8A and Giraffe 4A systems, France’s Thales Ground Master 400, and Germany’s Hensoldt TRML-4D.

For target illumination and fire-control guidance, Fire Point plans to integrate either Denmark’s Weibel GFTR-2100/48 radar or Italy’s Leonardo KRONOS Land radar system.

The command-and-control component of the project is based on the Kongsberg Fire Distribution Center developed by Norway’s Kongsberg. The centre incorporates Network Access Nodes modules and open-architecture software allowing integration of custom Ukrainian and European defence components.

 

Link 16 Integration and NATO-Compatible Network

A central element of the Freya project is integration with NATO’s Link 16 tactical data exchange protocol. Ukraine formally secured access to the network on 29 May 2025 through a licence agreement for NATO’s non-commercial CRC System Interface software.

According to Fire Point, the Link 16 network enables real-time exchange of tactical information between land, air, and maritime forces while supporting secure communication and automated operational control.

Within the Freya system, Link 16 provides radar connectivity through the ASTERIX protocol and supports a full-duplex communication channel for real-time course correction of the FP-7.x interceptor during flight operations.

The system is also capable of transmitting weapons targeting data, equipment telemetry, voice communications, and battlefield coordination information between connected units.

Ukraine’s operational-tactical situational awareness system “Delta” has already been integrated into the Link 16 network, enabling interoperability with NATO-compatible tactical communication infrastructure currently operating inside Ukraine.

 

European Cooperation and Industrial Expansion

Fire Point, founded in Kyiv in 2022, has expanded rapidly during the war and was recently valued by international investors at more than $2.5 billion.

The company is currently cooperating with European missile manufacturer MBDA on further missile development linked to the Freya project. Ukraine and Germany have also agreed to deepen cooperation on ballistic missile interceptor production and accelerate programs focused on integration with European radar and digital communications systems.

Additional international support has come from Norway, which allocated funding last year for the procurement of surface-to-air missiles intended for Ukrainian air defence systems operating from Soviet-era launch platforms.

To support long-term missile production, Fire Point plans to establish a solid rocket fuel manufacturing facility in Denmark. The proposed plant will supply fuel for the FP-7.x interceptor and other Ukrainian missile systems.

The Danish government previously approved temporary suspension of more than 20 laws and regulatory procedures to accelerate construction timelines for the facility and expand defence industrial production capacity.

Project Freya represents one of the largest Ukrainian-led attempts to integrate domestic missile interceptor technology with a broader European missile defence architecture, combining Ukrainian missile production with NATO-compatible radar, communications, and comma

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About the Author

Aditya Kumar is a Defense & Geopolitics Analyst covering military developments, missile systems, naval strategy, and global defense affairs.