TL;DR
The UK Ministry of Defence has opened Project Nightfall, a competition to rapidly develop a ground-launched ballistic missile with a range over 500 km and a 200 kg conventional warhead to supply Ukraine. Three industry teams will get £9m each to design and produce three test missiles within 12 months under tight production and export-control criteria.
What happened
The UK Ministry of Defence has initiated Project Nightfall, seeking a domestically built ground-launched ballistic missile capable of striking beyond 500 kilometres and carrying a 200 kg conventional high-explosive warhead. The MoD wants three industry teams, each to receive a £9 million development contract to design and deliver three missiles for test firing within 12 months. Requirements include launchability from multiple vehicle types to enable rapid salvo firing and 'shoot-and-scoot' tactics, operation in high-threat environments with heavy electromagnetic interference, and a production rate target of ten systems per month. The MoD sets a maximum unit price of £800,000 per missile and says the initiative aims to minimise foreign export controls. Officials frame the programme as both an urgent capability for Ukraine and as work that will inform future UK long-range strike projects; proposals were shared in December, with submissions due on February 9 and contract awards expected in March.
Why it matters
- Extends strike reach available to Ukrainian forces, potentially enabling strikes from inside Ukraine into parts of Russia at the stated range.
- Short, 12-month development timetable signals urgent operational need and pressure to reuse proven components rather than design from scratch.
- Domestic production with minimal foreign export controls could ease transfer bottlenecks and political vetoes on exports.
- If successful, the project could shape or become part of the UK’s future long-range strike capabilities.
Key facts
- Codename: Project Nightfall.
- Required range: more than 500 kilometres.
- Warhead: 200 kg conventional high-explosive.
- Planned awards: three industry teams, £9 million each.
- Deliverable per team: three missiles for test firing within 12 months.
- Production target: ten systems per month.
- Maximum unit price: £800,000 per missile.
- Design constraints: launchable from multiple vehicles and resilient to heavy electromagnetic interference.
- Proposal deadline: February 9; contracts expected to be awarded in March.
What to watch next
- Which companies bid for the three development contracts and their technical approaches.
- Results of the planned test firings within the 12-month development window.
- Whether the MoD moves to scale production beyond the stated ten systems per month — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Project Nightfall designs are formally adopted into UK Armed Forces service — MoD says it will inform future projects but adoption is not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Ground-launched ballistic missile: A missile launched from a land platform that follows a ballistic trajectory, typically used to strike distant targets with high speed.
- Warhead: The explosive or payload section of a missile designed to inflict damage on a target.
- Electromagnetic interference (EMI): Disturbances generated by electronic systems or the environment that can disrupt the operation of electronic equipment.
- Shoot-and-scoot: A tactic where launch units fire rapidly and then relocate quickly to avoid counterattack.
- Export controls: Government regulations that restrict the transfer of military hardware or technology to other countries.
Reader FAQ
Who will build the missiles?
Not confirmed in the source.
Will the missiles be supplied to Ukraine quickly?
The MoD frames the project as an urgent capability for Ukraine, but specific delivery timelines to Ukraine are not confirmed in the source.
How many missiles must each contractor deliver for testing?
Each contracted team must design and deliver three missiles for test firing within 12 months.
Could the UK armed forces adopt the system?
The MoD says Project Nightfall will inform future UK long-range strike projects, but formal adoption is not confirmed in the source.
PUBLIC SECTOR 4 Britain goes shopping for a rapid-fire missile to help Ukraine hit back Project Nightfall aims to deliver a UK-built long-range strike capability at speed Dan Robinson Tue 13 Jan 2026…
Sources
- Britain goes shopping for a rapid-fire missile to help Ukraine hit back
- UK to develop new deep strike ballistic missile for Ukraine
- UK wants to fast-track new ballistic missile for Ukraine
- UK's Project Nightfall Conventional Ballistic Missile Will …
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