Denis Shtilerman, chief designer at the Ukrainian company Fire Point, said the Freyja missile defence system being developed by Kiev together with European partners is scheduled for full-scale launch by mid-2027.
In a post on X, Shtilerman said the first stage of integration work has already been completed. The next step will be to combine all elements of the project into a single system, which he described as the largest and most technologically demanding phase.
Once integration is complete, Freyja will have to undergo a full testing cycle and demonstrate its ability to intercept ballistic targets.
Shtilerman also rejected claims that Fire Point had promised to create a fully protected Ukrainian airspace within a short timeframe. He said the company’s actual target is to launch the anti-ballistic interceptor on a full scale by mid-2027.
Earlier in August, Fire Point CEO Irina Terekh said the company had signed agreements with 13 European firms to supply radars, navigation systems and other components for the Freyja project.
According to Terekh, the first interception using Freyja is also planned for mid-2027.