German defence firm Hensoldt and Ukrainian manufacturer Fire Point have formed a strategic partnership to produce, test and integrate radar units for a ballistic missile defence system. The radars are reported to detect and track up to 1,500 aerial targets and will be fitted into Fire Point’s Freya air-defence platform. No information has been released on quantities, delivery schedules or contract value. The move is part of Ukraine’s broader effort to complement Western systems and improve nationwide missile defence.
Hensoldt Teams With Fire Point To Supply Radars For Kyiv’s Ballistic Missile Defence
FILE PHOTO - The logo of the Hensoldt armaments group can be seen at the company headquarters. (is associated with: «German defence firm Hensoldt to supply radars to Kiev») Lino Mirgeler/dpa
German defence firm Hensoldt has signed a strategic partnership with Ukrainian weapons manufacturer Fire Point at the Eurosatory defence fair in Paris to supply and integrate radar systems for a ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability for Ukraine.
Under the agreement, Hensoldt will be responsible for producing, testing and delivering radar units and supporting their technical integration into the overall BMD architecture, the company said in a press release. Hensoldt says the sensors can detect and track as many as 1,500 distinct aerial targets.
Integration With Fire Point’s Freya System
The radars are slated to be integrated into Fire Point’s Freya air-defence platform. No details have been released yet on the number of radar units to be supplied, delivery timelines or the potential contract value.
“Now we can move from concept to the practical realization of a pan-European shield against ballistic missiles,” said Fire Point Chief Executive Iryna Terekh, according to Ukrainian media reports.
Why This Matters
Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than four years. Russian forces continue to strike Ukrainian territory with missiles and drones. While Ukrainian counter-drone capabilities have improved, long-range missile strikes remain a major challenge.
Western-supplied systems such as the US Patriot and German IRIS-T provide high-end defence but cannot alone deliver comprehensive nationwide coverage, and their interceptors are costly. That context has driven Kyiv to pursue homegrown solutions and partnerships with Western defence suppliers.
About The Companies
Fire Point built a reputation during the war for developing drones and missile systems. Hensoldt, based in Taufkirchen near Munich, specializes in radar and electro-optical sensors, electronics and software for land, naval, air and space forces and cyber-defence applications. The publicly listed company reported revenue of €2.46 billion ($2.85 billion) last year.
Further technical details, production schedules and contract terms have not been published. Observers will watch closely for how the partnership progresses and whether the integrated Freya-BMD configuration can be scaled for broader Ukrainian defence needs.
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