Ukraine and Belgium team up to produce drone-defeating missiles

Ukraine has signed a memorandum with the Belgian company Thales. This agreement outlines joint production of missiles for air defense, Ukraine's Minister for Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin said on Telegram, Report informs via RBC Ukraine.

"Thales Belgium has signed a memorandum of cooperation with a Ukrainian defense enterprise. This agreement provides for the joint production of missiles to counter hostile drones," the minister stated.

According to the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries, it is expected that the cooperation will expand to include the transfer of technologies and components for these missiles.

Smetanin emphasized that this collaboration will strengthen Ukraine's defense industry and enhance the protection of critical infrastructure from enemy drones.

The specialized publication Defense Express suggests that Ukraine and Thales will produce the FZ275 LGR missiles, which are already in service with Ukraine's Defense Forces. This is a 70mm missile with semi-active laser guidance.

In August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the first successful use of the Ukrainian drone missile Palianytsia.

The head of state also highlighted that Ukraine is developing its own ballistic missiles.

According to the director of the state enterprise Spetstechnoexport, Oleksiy Petrov, Ukraine will have its own cruise and ballistic missiles by mid-2025.