The United Kingdom will develop long-range ballistic missiles for Ukraine under Project NIGHTFALL to help enhance Kyiv’s ability to strike Russian forces and critical strategic targets, UK Defense Ministry stated in a handout on January 11.
The announcement follows UK Defence Secretary John Healey’s visit to Ukraine, which coincided with Russia’s deployment of its Oreshnik hypersonic missile against Kyiv and several other cities across Ukraine on the night leading to January 9. "We were close enough to hear the air raid sirens around Lviv on our journey to Kyiv, it was a serious moment and a stark reminder of the barrage of drones and missiles hitting Ukrainians in sub-zero conditions. "We won't stand for this, which is why we are determined to put leading-edge weapons into the hands of Ukrainians as they fight back," Healey said.
With a 200 kg warhead, Nightfall missiles have a range of over 500 kilometers. The ground-launched missiles are built for rapid, sequential firing followed by swift relocation, allowing Ukraine to strike high-value targets before Russian forces have time to react.
One of Project NIGHTFALL’s key advantages is that it is being conceived and built in the UK specifically for Ukraine, allowing it to operate with far fewer foreign export constraints than systems such as the US-provided ATACMS. The NIGHTFALL missiles are intended to be deployable from multiple vehicle platforms, enabling salvo launches in quick succession and rapid relocation within minutes. This mobility would allow Ukrainian forces to strike high-value military targets before Russian units can respond.
The Ministry of Defence noted that although the programme is focused on supporting Ukraine, it will also contribute valuable insights for the future development of long-range strike capabilities within the UK Armed Forces.
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