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Nightfall Over Russia—UK Builds 500-km Ranged Missile to Help Ukraine Strike Back
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
The UK government has formally launched development of a new long-range ballistic missile designed specifically for Ukraine’s armed forces, according to an announcement published on the British government’s official website on January 11.
The project, known as Nightfall, is intended to give Ukraine the ability to conduct precise deep-strike attacks at distances of more than 500 kilometers, targeting Russian logistics hubs, command centers, and rear-area infrastructure far behind the front lines.
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A central design requirement for Nightfall is resilience against electronic warfare. British officials say the missile is being developed to operate effectively in environments where GPS and other satellite navigation signals are heavily jammed, a condition that has become routine on the modern battlefield.
Nightfall is expected to carry a 200-kilogram high-explosive warhead and achieve a high level of accuracy, with a stated circular error of no more than five meters. The missile will be launched from mobile platforms capable of firing multiple rounds in rapid succession before quickly relocating to avoid counterfire.
The UK Ministry of Defence has set a tight development timeline. By March 2026, officials plan to select three engineering teams, each of which will receive $12.1 million to build initial prototypes. Test launches are expected to take place within the following 12 months under what the ministry describes as a “rapid prototyping” approach.
“Project Nightfall is focused on rapid prototyping, spiral development, resilience to electronic warfare, and the ability to scale production quickly,” UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
Cost control is also a key element of the program. British officials have set a target price of no more than £800,000 per missile—roughly $1 million—with production expected to reach at least 10 missiles per month. That output would be intended to meet the needs of both the UK armed forces and Ukraine.
British government confirmed it would develop a new long-range ballistic missile for Ukraine as part of broader efforts to bolster Kyiv’s ability to strike Russian forces at extended distances. Under the Nightfall program, London has opened a competitive process for the fast-track development of ground-launched ballistic missiles capable of delivering a 200-kilogram warhead beyond 500 kilometers.
British firms are being offered contracts worth $12.1 million to design, develop, and deliver the first three missiles for testing as part of the program’s initial phase.
Earlier, UK Defense Secretary John Healey stated that he would detain Russian leader Vladimir Putin and bring him to justice for war crimes, if given the opportunity.
