Towards a common defense system in Europe? Ukraine will hold discussions with various European countries on the establishment of a common air defense system, announced Volodymr Zelensky during a speech marking Armorer’s Day on April 13.
” This week, we will have a conversation with Europeans with negotiations on the creation of a common air defense system. I am convinced that either Ukraine will become an integral part of the European security system, or some in Europe risk being part of the Russian world,” emphasized the Ukrainian president.
He did not fail to point out that Ukraine’s experience in security matters and military expertise are now “the most sought-after products by dozens of countries worldwide.” “Ukraine is a global producer of strength and security. This is already the case and will remain so,” he added, announcing these discussions with European partners following his tour of the Middle East.
The accuracy of the Ukrainian president’s intentions is currently subject to interpretation. It is unclear whether his remarks relate to the technical development of fully joint air defense systems, or if it is rather an initiative aimed at merging national air defense systems into a coherent regional network, notes Militarnyi.
Industrial collaborations already materialized
Alongside these discussions, Ukraine is intensifying its efforts for the production of missiles destined for Western air defense systems used by its Defense Forces to take place on its territory. The issue of local production of surface-to-air missiles was raised at Ukraine’s request in April 2025, during the Ramstein meeting. Kiev faced refusals, particularly from Washington regarding the production license of Patriot systems.
Despite some setbacks, promising industrial collaborations have already materialized, such as with the Norwegian government, in partnership with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, which funds the development of Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles specifically tailored to the Nasams system. The integration of these missiles was confirmed in February 2025, and a joint venture is even being established in Ukraine to increase the production of Nasams missiles through Ukrainian technology. Kongsberg has also designed a short-range air defense system for Ukrainian Inguar-3 vehicles.
On their part, Ukrainian companies also offer solutions. For example, the Ukrainian company Fire Point promotes its “Freya” project, aiming to integrate Ukrainian developments into a hybrid antimissile defense system, combining local production of S-300/S-400 missiles and European radars.
