---
title: "Freya: Ukraine's response to ballistic missiles. How Fire Point is creating a cheaper alternative to Patriot"
description: "Ukrainian company Fire Point has tested a new FP-7.x interceptor missile as part of the European Freya project. 🚀 The new system, capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, promises to be an affordable alternative to Patriot: the cost of one missile is only $700k compared to $3.8m for the American analogue. 🛡️ Mass production will start as early as August."
date: 2026-06-10T15:52:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/freya-ukraines-response-to-ballistic-missiles-how-fire-point-is-creating-a-cheaper-alternative-to-patriot
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Freya: Ukraine's response to ballistic missiles. How Fire Point is creating a cheaper alternative to Patriot

![Launch of Ukrainian Freya missile by Fire Point, an alternative to the Patriot system](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/11/freya-ukrainskiy-otvet-ballistike-kak-fire-point-sozdaet-deshevuyu-alternativu-patriot/freya-ukrainskiy-otvet-ballistike-kak-fire-point-sozdaet-deshevuyu-alternativu-patriot-1.webp)

Ukraine's defense industry has taken a step towards creating a fundamentally new air defense system. The company Fire Point has successfully tested an interceptor missile capable of destroying ballistic targets. The new product is positioned as a more affordable and scalable alternative to American Patriot systems.

### The European Freya Project

Development is taking place within the framework of the European Freya program, which has been joined by several partner countries. The main goal of the project is to create an air defense system capable of effectively intercepting ballistic missiles. On the Ukrainian side, the program is overseen by Rustem Umerov. In addition to Ukraine, Germany, France, and Norway are participating in the implementation of the project.

Another Ukrainian company is participating in the program, although its name is not yet disclosed. Fire Point acts as the initiator, main developer, and integrator of the entire complex. The company independently develops and produces FP-7 interceptor missiles, as well as launchers. The remaining components of the system are created by partner countries, after which Fire Point integrates them into a single complete system.

### Technical specifications of FP-7.x

The basis of the new complex is the FP-7.x interceptor missile, made of modern composite materials. The first demonstration launches of the missile took place at the end of February of this year. According to the developers, the product has the following parameters:

- The length of the missile is 7.25 meters.

- The maximum flight speed reaches 1500–2000 m/s.

- Range — up to 200 km.

- Warhead weight — up to 150 kg.

An important aspect is the guidance system. The missile is equipped with a semi-active infrared homing head. The development of this component is being carried out in cooperation with the German company Diehl Defence (IRIS).

### Economic factor and scalability

The key advantage of the new development, on which Fire Point is betting, is a significantly lower cost compared to Western analogues. One interceptor is estimated at approximately $700,000. For comparison, a PAC-3 missile for the Patriot system costs about $3.8 million.

This price difference, according to the developers' plan, should allow for significant scaling of production and the creation of large stocks for daily use under conditions of intensive attacks. This is particularly relevant against the backdrop of reports from the Ukrainian Air Force about an acute shortage of ammunition for Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T systems, where individual units have critically limited missile stocks.

### Implementation plans

The company plans to start mass production as early as August of this year. According to current plans, the missile may enter service in 2027. Fire Point emphasizes that Freya is a multifunctional complex capable of performing both air defense and anti-ballistic defense tasks, but its key feature is protection specifically against ballistic targets.