In brief: President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday, Nov. 13, that Ukraine’s domestically built interceptor missile and launcher under the multinational FREYJA anti-ballistic program are ready, while partners completed the system’s first foreign component – a Danish radar. Speaking after talks with Nordic Five (N5) leaders, Zelensky confirmed that Nordic allies pledged continued support next year and discussed closing a funding shortfall in NATO’s PURL program for purchasing US weapons.
Ukraine’s domestically developed interceptor missile for countering ballistic targets under the multinational FREYJA air defense program is ready, and partners have completed the system’s first foreign-built component – a Danish radar, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday, Nov. 13.
Speaking during a briefing with journalists, Zelensky stated that he reviewed technical progress on the joint air defense initiative during consultations with leaders of the Nordic Five (N5) countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
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“We heard a report on the Danish radar. This is the first part from partners that is ready. And overall, our missile is ready. That is the main thing,” Zelensky said.
The president explained that Ukraine manufactures both the interceptor missile and the launcher platform domestically, while partner nations are developing and supplying the remaining radar, sensor, and command-and-control components required to integrate the system.
Alongside the FREYJA program, Zelensky and N5 leaders reviewed immediate winter energy assistance, air defense reinforcements, and multi-year defense commitments. The president confirmed that the five Nordic states pledged to sustain their financial and military support for Ukraine next year.
Participants also discussed financing for NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, through which European allies purchase American-manufactured weapons and munitions for Ukraine.
Zelensky noted that the program currently faces a funding shortfall and requires fresh financial contributions from partner governments.
What is the FREYJA anti-ballistic defense initiative?
Initiated and led by Ukrainian defense company FirePoint, the FREYJA program aims to establish an integrated European anti-ballistic shield and build domestic and allied alternatives to US-made Patriot interceptors.
In September, Zelensky and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met in Oslo with executives from FirePoint and major European defense contractors – including Kongsberg, Weibel, Saab, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Thales, Safran, Sener, and Leonardo – to coordinate industrial production across Ukraine, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Norway has served as a leading financial backer of Ukrainian air defense, allocating 85 billion Norwegian kroner ($9.2 billion) under its Nansen Support Program for 2026 – including 70 billion kroner ($7.6 billion) in military aid—with Oslo proposing to maintain the same 85-billion-kroner funding level next year.
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