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UK Launches Project Nightfall to Field Long-Range Ballistic Missiles for Ukraine

London sets out a fast-track competition to supply Ukraine with a lower-cost deep-strike option.

Overview

  • Britain’s specification calls for a rocket-propelled missile with at least 500 km range, a 200 kg conventional warhead, and systems hardened against electromagnetic interference.
  • The unit cost target is about £800,000 per missile, roughly €920,000, positioned as a cost-effective long-range strike choice.
  • Three UK industry teams have received initial development contracts of about €10.3 million each to deliver three test missiles within 12 months for trials.
  • The program seeks rapid reloads, the ability to launch multiple strikes in quick succession, and truck-mounted mobility, with a reported goal of producing roughly 10 systems per month after prototyping.
  • Analysts expect limited battlefield impact in 2026 due to scaling constraints, even as UK officials present the effort as strengthening Ukraine’s firepower and complicating Moscow’s planning.