Ukraine and Europe developing new major new missiles capable of smashing Russia's ballistic threat

Ukraine and Europe developing new major new missiles capable of smashing Russia's ballistic threat As Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appeals desperately for defence missiles from the US, Kyiv is pounded by ballistic weapons and the race is on to make a Patriot replacement Ukraine's defence sector is linking up with European companies to develop a weapon to replace the US Patriot missile, capable of smashing Russia’s deadly ballistic threat. It emerged as Ukraine’s President hinted delays over getting desperately-needed Patriots are an effort by the US to allow Kyiv to weaken in the face of future peace talks. Across Ukraine, at least 13 died in the latest ballistic attacks unleashed by Kremlin forces as Ukraine hammered Russia’s energy sector in deep-strike drone attacks. Kyiv’s drone and missile maker Fire Point has secured agreements from a dozen European defence companies to offer radar and guidance for the Freyja missile project. The pan-European project was launched officially in Paris last month by ten governments and 12 defence giant - including Eurosam, Leonardo, Thales and SAAB. Kyiv relies on US-made Patriots to down ballistic missiles flying at several times the speed of sound to hit Putin’s ballistic missiles. But global shortages of its interceptor missiles, exacerbated by the war in Iran, have left Ukraine exposed and Zelensky desperate. This week, 17 were killed by missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding area overnight on Wednesday. By Thursday, at least another 13 died in Ukraine from Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s ballistic missile and drone attacks. He said: “It is important to cut through all red tape and make the necessary political decisions. Literally every day, people’s lives here in Ukraine depend on the resolve of our partners in Europe and the United States.” “Ballistic interceptors are what could have saved the lives of those killed today.” He said Kyiv has been supplied with just a third of the air defence missiles in 2026 compared to a year earlier. And he added: “It is very important for our partners to understand that delays in supplying them, or a reluctance to hand over anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction.” Firepoint CEO Iryna Terekh said of the new missile deal: “Pretty much everything is agreed. Right now we are in the most intense and also the most complicated stage of finally assembling everything together with surveillance radars, tracking radars and the seekers.” But she said that the company is trying to instill urgency into the project and also reduce the cost of the missile to around £800,000 each - less than quarter of the cost of a Patriot. She added: “We’re trying to squeeze a program that usually takes 20 or 30 years into a matter of a couple of years.” The new European - Ukrainian interceptor missile has, according to sources, been tested five times.