Is Europe moving towards a common defense system? Ukraine will hold discussions with various European countries on the establishment of a common air defense system, Volodymyr Zelensky announced 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 becoming part of the Russian world,” the Ukrainian president stated.
He did not fail to point out that Ukraine’s security experience and military expertise are “now the most sought-after products by dozens of countries around the world.” “Ukraine is a global producer of strength and security. It 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 intentions of the Ukrainian president is currently subject to interpretation. It is unclear whether his remarks concern 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 materializing
In parallel to these discussions, Ukraine is intensifying efforts to ensure that the production of missiles for Western air defense systems used by its Armed Forces is carried out 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, notably from Washington regarding the production license for Patriot systems.
Despite some setbacks, promising industrial collaborations have been materialized, such as the one with the Norwegian government, in partnership with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, which is funding the development of Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles specifically adapted to the Nasams system. The integration of these missiles was confirmed in February 2025, and a joint venture is even being created in Ukraine to increase the production of Nasams missiles using Ukrainian technology. Kongsberg has also designed a short-range air defense system for Ukrainian Inguar-3 vehicles.
On the other hand, Ukrainian companies also offer solutions. The Ukrainian company Fire Point, for example, is promoting its “Freya” project, aiming to integrate Ukrainian developments into a hybrid anti-missile defense system, combining local production of S-300/S-400 missiles and European radars.
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