--- title: "SAMP/T, FREYJA and homegrown ballistics: Zelensky reveals plan to strengthen Ukraine's air defense for 2026–2028" description: "Zelensky reported on negotiations with France and Germany on air defense: in the autumn Ukraine will receive radars and a SAMP/T system, and by the end of the year — licenses for the production of French weapons." date: 2026-08-23T09:08:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-air-defense-samp-t-freyja-pac-2-zelensky tags: [ukraine, air-defense, samp-t, freyja, patriot, pacz-2, france, germany, zelenskiy] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # SAMP/T, FREYJA and homegrown ballistics: Zelensky reveals plan to strengthen Ukraine's air defense for 2026–2028 ![Ballistic missile launch from a launch pad against the sky — illustration of Ukraine's air defense upgrade plan with SAMP/T and FREYJA](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/23/ukraina-pvo-samp-t-freyja-pac-2-zelenskiy/ukraina-pvo-samp-t-freyja-pac-2-zelenskiy-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - In the autumn, Ukraine expects new air defense radars from France and at least one SAMP/T system; a second one is possible subject to production capacity. - The main problem is the shortage of Aster 30 missiles; payment is possible through a European credit, and contracts for additional production are planned for September. - By the end of 2026, Kyiv expects to obtain licenses for the production of three types of French weapons; the FREYJA project has moved into the technical phase. - With Germany, 600 PAC-2 missiles for 2027–2028 have been agreed, and parallel negotiations with the US are underway; Raytheon and Fire Point are working on a Ukrainian missile for the Patriot. - Two Ukrainian companies are developing ballistic weapons without mass production; in parallel, a homegrown satellite project is underway in response to the Starlink analog. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the key directions of negotiations on strengthening the country's air and missile defense in a conversation with journalists. According to him, following a nearly two-hour talk with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues — from diplomatic contacts to specific deliveries of SAMP/T air defense systems. The meeting was part of a broader line of coordination with European capitals, where parallel contacts are being held with Berlin and Washington. ### France: radars in the autumn and the first SAMP/T system According to RBC-Ukraine, Ukraine expects to receive new air defense radars from France in the autumn, as well as at least one SAMP/T system; a second system may be delivered depending on production capacity. The President pointed to the main bottleneck — a shortage of Aster 30 missiles, comparable to the shortage of ammunition for the "Patriots." Under the current contract, Kyiv will be able to pay for these missiles using a European credit, and in September it plans to sign contracts for the production of additional ammunition. ### Licenses for French weapons and the FREYJA project Zelensky expects to obtain licenses for the production of three types of French weapons directly in Ukraine by the end of 2026. A separate milestone was the development of the European missile defense project FREYJA: according to the President, it has moved from the stage of political support by leaders to practical technical work by the relevant companies, indicating that the project has entered its industrial phase. ### PAC-2 and "Patriots": the deal with Germany and the parallel track with the US As for the Patriot systems, Zelensky reported that he had agreed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 600 PAC-2 missiles for 2027–2028, as well as on parallel negotiations with the US, which, according to him, are significantly ramping up production in the second half of 2027. A separate direction was cooperation with Raytheon on creating a Ukrainian missile for the "Patriot": the company Fire Point was chosen as the partner, the first technical meeting took place, and a response is expected within the coming weeks. ### Contradictory data Differences in figures and terminology are noted in public statements and source headlines. On the one hand, Zelensky cites 600 PAC-2 missiles under the agreement with Germany; on the other, a number of publications (including Glavred) refer to a figure of 300 missiles for the Patriot in the context of the agreement with the US/Trump. These figures may reflect different packages (German PAC-2 and US ammunition) or different stages of the negotiations, however, independent verification of the final volumes is not yet available. Sources also use the spellings "FREYA" and "FREYJA" for the project, whereas the established international designation is FREYJA. All production timelines (licenses by the end of 2026, the ramp-up of US production in the second half of 2027) are statements by the parties and are not confirmed by independent data. ### Homegrown ballistics and a response to the satellite constellation Zelensky recalled that Russia, together with China, is building its own Starlink analog and, in his assessment, plans to complete the project by December 2026; in parallel, Ukraine is developing its own project with a European partner and has already begun its testing. The President also reported that two Ukrainian companies are working on creating domestic ballistic weapons, although mass production is not yet planned: the companies are facing technical difficulties that they are trying to overcome. According to him, it is precisely reaching serial production that will allow Ukraine to deliver "painful strikes" in response to attacks from Russia. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [SAMP/T, FREYJA and homegrown ballistics: Zelensky talks about new decisions for air defense](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/samp-t-freyja-i-vlasna-balistika-zelenskiy-1787475823.html) - Первичный источник: переговоры с Макроном, радары и SAMP/T осенью, нехватка Aster 30, лицензии до конца года, 600 PAC-2 с Мерцем, FREYJA, Raytheon/Fire Point, баллистика, аналог Starlink. - [Ukraine needs 300 missiles for the Patriot: Zelensky talks about the agreement with Trump](https://glavred.info/war/ukraine-nuzhno-300-raket-dlya-patriot-zelenskiy-rasskazal-o-soglashenii-s-trampom-10780376.html) - Оперiert цифрой 300 ракет для Patriot в контексте соглашения с Трампом; не совпадает с 600 PAC-2 из основного текста — зафиксировано как противоречие/разные пакеты. - [Ukraine to receive new air defense radars from France in the autumn – Zelensky](https://ru.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1195394.html) - Независимо подтверждает получение новых радаров ПВО от Франции осенью. - [Ukraine to be the first to receive Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG missile defense systems - Zelensky](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/politics/_ukraina-pervoj-poluchit-francuzskoitalyanskie-protivoraketnye-sistemy-sampt-ng-zelenskij/1254596) - Подтверждает линию поставок SAMP/T от Франции; указывает на версию SAMP/T NG. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly is Ukraine expecting from France in the autumn? **A:** According to Zelensky, new air defense radars from France are expected in the autumn, as well as at least one SAMP/T system; a second system is possible depending on production capacity. ### Q: What is the main problem with SAMP/T deliveries? **A:** The main problem is the shortage of Aster 30 missiles, similar to the situation with "Patriot" ammunition. Payment is possible through a European credit, and contracts for the production of additional missiles are planned for September. ### Q: How many PAC-2 missiles have been agreed with Germany? **A:** Zelensky reported on 600 PAC-2 missiles for 2027–2028 under the agreements with Chancellor Friedrich Merz; parallel negotiations with the US are underway. Some publications cite a figure of 300 missiles in the context of the US track, which has been moved to the contradictory data block. ### Q: Does Ukraine have its own ballistic weapons? **A:** Two Ukrainian companies are working on creating domestic ballistic weapons, but there is no mass production yet; the companies are facing technical difficulties that they are trying to resolve.