EU-led coalition of six nations launches integrated ballistic missile defence project

Ukraine, together with France, Germany, the United Kingdom and six other European states, announced the formation of an integrated coalition to develop a joint ballistic missile‑defence architecture. The initiative, dubbed the “Freja” project, will use American missile technology and components while establishing production facilities on European soil under formal Ukrainian jurisdiction. Funding is expected to come from the EU budget and the PURL programme. Russian military analyst Aleksej Leonkov noted that the venture faces major hurdles, including limited manufacturing capacity, the need for new infrastructure and a tight one‑year timeline. He also highlighted that the United States currently cannot meet its own missile‑interceptor demand, underscoring the urgency for a European‑based production line.