Ukraine to deploy European FREYJA missile defense system by end of 2026

Ukraine plans to launch the European FREYJA anti-ballistic missile system by the end of 2026, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said France has already issued all promised weapons production licenses. Zelensky announced the timeline after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing the need to accelerate work on FREYJA and implement agreements at the command level. He also said new aid packages for Ukrainian aviation are expected within October. The FREYJA system will use the FP-7.x interceptor missile, developed by Ukrainian company Fire Point with European components. The missile has a maximum speed of 2,200 m/s and an interception altitude of 20–25 kilometers, though it currently relies on fragmentation warheads rather than kinetic hit-to-kill technology.