Britain Considers Transferring NIGHTFALL Ballistic Missiles to Ukraine After Their Development Is Completed
#Ballistic missiles
#Europe
#Great Britain
#Military assistance
#Ukraine
#United Kingdom
#War with Russia
September 3, 2025
21:51
The M270 rocket launcher launches an ATACMS missile. UNITED STATES. Photo credits: U.S. Army (USAASC)
The United Kingdom is considering the possibility of transferring NIGHTFALL tactical ballistic missiles to Ukraine after their development is completed.
This was announced by Defense Secretary John Healey during a briefing, according to the Militarnyi correspondent’s report.
For more than three and a half years, we in the UK have been among the first to support Ukraine and provide it with the necessary assistance. We will always try to respond to what Ukraine thinks it needs most. But when we do so, we do not disclose the details of the technologies we provide,” he said.
The start of development of the NIGHTFALL missile was
announced in late August. It will have a range of more than 600 kilometers and carry about 300 kilograms of explosives, so the total weight of the warhead is likely to reach 400-500 kilograms.
Launch of the ATACMS ballistic missile at the White Sands Test Site, 2021. Photo credits: US Army
The missile will move along a quasi-ballistic trajectory, maneuvering at the terminal stage of flight. This will ensure high hit accuracy with a circular deviation of no more than 5 meters.
The navigation system must operate stably in a “complex electromagnetic environment”, even in the absence of a satellite signal or its substitution by electronic warfare.
The developers’ requirements also include a low multispectral signature of the missile, which may involve the use of stealth technologies.
The launcher must accommodate at least two missiles and ensure “safe launch in conditions of high tactical threat” of the entire ammunition within 15 minutes after stopping at the firing position. After the launch, the crew should be able to leave the area within 5 minutes.
The expected cost of one missile is no more than 500 thousand pounds ($675 thousand), excluding the warhead, launcher and development costs.
If the contract is awarded, the production facility should be able to produce at least 10 missiles per month with the possibility of further scaling up.
The UK Ministry of Defense plans to find technical solutions and prepare at least five fully operational prototypes for testing within 9-12 months.
-
Lainaan jatkoksi artikkelissa linkitetyn hieman vanhemman artikkelin tekstin:
Britain Plans to Develop a Ballistic Missile in Nine Months
#Ballistic missiles
#United Kingdom
#World
August 28, 2025
15:32
Launch of the ATACMS ballistic missile at the White Sands test site, 2021. Photo credits: US Army
The British Ministry of Defense has announced the NIGHTFALL project to develop a new tactical ballistic missile with a range of over 600 kilometers in record time.
The announcement was published in the Contracts Finder section of the
gov.uk official government website.
The Ministry of Defense has announced the opening of the “early engagement” stage for proposals on the development of a cost-effective land-based ballistic missile that will be launched from a mobile platform and capable of hitting targets at programmed coordinates.
A missile with a range of over 600 kilometers would have to carry about 300 kilograms of explosives alone, meaning that the weight of a full warhead would likely reach at least 400-500 kilograms.
It will have a quasi-ballistic trajectory, meaning that it will maneuver at the terminal stage of flight, ensuring an accurate hit on the target with a circular deviation of no more than 5 meters.
The navigation system is required to operate steadily in a “complex electromagnetic environment,” even in the absence of satellite navigation or signal jamming by electronic warfare systems.
The developers also specified the requirement for a low multispectral signature of the product, which may mean the need to use stealth technologies.
The launcher of the missile system must carry at least two ballistic missiles and have the capability to “safely launch the entire warhead in conditions of high tactical threat” within 15 minutes after stopping at the firing line. After launch, the launcher and crew must be able to quickly leave the area within 5 minutes.
British M270 missile system capable of carrying two ATACMS ballistic missiles, March 2015. Photo credits: Cpl Jamie Peters
The Ministry of Defense also stated that “the project will prioritize scalability over perfect solutions,” making it clear that mass production and speed of delivery will be valued more than highly complex or expensive products.
The expected cost per missile should not exceed £500,000 per unit ($675,000), excluding the warhead, launcher, and any development costs.
Considering a potential future contract, production should be capable of producing at least 10 units per month, with the possibility of further scaling.
The defense ministry intends to find potential solutions within 9-12 months and provide at least five fully operational prototypes for testing. Ideally, these solutions should utilize technologies that are free from trade restrictions imposed by foreign governments.
That is, if industry feedback is positive, the competition will be announced in late 2025, leading to demonstration firing in 2026.
atlas-intbg.com
wzl2.mil.pl
needs 5 types of missiles to be successful in the war, and they need a combined total production rate of over 200-300 missiles per month to have a significant impact on the war
- Ukraine has no alternatives to Tomahawk, Kalibr, or Kh-101, as Korshun was not funded after 2020
- Flamingo FP-5, 1,150kg Warhead, and a 3,000km range. Flamingo is the missile with the most potential for Ukraine in the coming months, as the production can be increased to over 100 Flamingo missiles per month
- Ukraine has successfully tested the Hrim-2 (Sapsan) missile but has not been able to produce it in any significant quantities. Currently, they make 0 to 3 missiles per month, and fire 0 missiles per month on Russian targets while Russia is using over 50-60 Iskander-Ms per month on Ukraine
FP-7 has a range of up to 200 km, a maximum speed of 1,500 m/s and a circular deviation of 14 meters. Its combat load is 150 kg, and the maximum flight duration is 250 seconds.
