Military expert Yuri Knutov believes Ukraine’s FREYJA missile defense system is based on Soviet technology, specifically one of the S-300 variants.

He noted that Ukraine is already working on the FrankenSAM project, which combines Soviet-designed air defense systems with NATO components. According to Knutov, one S-300 modification entered service in the early 1980s and was deployed, among other places, in the Ukrainian SSR.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, part of that infrastructure remained on Ukrainian territory. Knutov pointed to a plant in Zhitomir that produced missiles for the system and suggested that Kiev may still have access to technical documentation, manufacturing descriptions and other relevant know-how.

In his assessment, Ukraine will try to restart production of such missiles with Western support while also modernizing them. He said different European countries are expected to provide separate components: Denmark would supply seekers, Germany radar equipment, and France or Spain guidance stations.

Knutov does not expect FREYJA to deliver breakthrough performance. He believes the system would only be somewhat more capable than the S-300, while Russia already operates the S-400 and S-500.

He also rejected claims that a modernized Zhitomir-produced missile could effectively engage ballistic or other high-speed targets, including hypersonic weapons.

In August, Ukrainian missile and drone manufacturer Fire Point signed agreements with 13 European companies to supply radars, guidance systems and other components for the FREYJA project.

Vladimir Zelensky has said the system is expected to enter service either at the end of 2026 or in early 2027.