Nightfall is a UK Ministry of Defence project for a road-mobile, ground-launched tactical ballistic missile intended to give Ukraine a lower-cost long-range strike option against fixed military targets. Official material describes a more-than-500 km missile carrying a roughly 200 kg conventional high-explosive warhead, designed for rapid salvo launch, withdrawal within minutes, and operation in heavy electronic-warfare conditions; parliamentary answers place first Ukrainian deliveries after testing, starting in late 2027.
The UK announced Project Nightfall to develop tactical ballistic missiles for Ukraine in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, and a May 2026 parliamentary answer said contracts had been signed. The cited sources support intended provision and planned late-2027 deliveries, not confirmed Ukrainian service, firing, or battlefield use.
Role detailsNightfall is a development and procurement project rather than a fielded weapon in the cited public record. The official January 2026 announcement describes intended capability for Ukraine and test missiles, while later parliamentary material says contracts had been signed and places first deliveries to Ukraine in late 2027 after successful testing.
No confirmed operational Ukrainian service in the cited sources.
Contracts had been signed by May 2026, but public sources checked here do not name the contractors.
The requirement emphasizes rapid launch, quick withdrawal, GNSS-contested navigation, and electronic-warfare resilience.
The Find a Tender notice said the Ministry of Defence was seeking a short-term development programme for a future tactical ballistic missile under Project NIGHTFALL.
Sources: Find a Tender Project NIGHTFALL Notice
GOV.UK said detailed Nightfall requirements were shared on 19 December 2025 with industry partners that had signed the required confidentiality and security arrangements.
Sources: GOV.UK Nightfall Announcement
The UK announced a competition to rapidly develop Nightfall missiles for Ukraine, describing more-than-500 km range, a 200 kg conventional high-explosive warhead, salvo launch, and a target production rate of 10 systems per month.
Sources: GOV.UK Nightfall Announcement
A Ministry of Defence answer said the project aimed to award three industry teams development contracts, conduct test firings after the first missiles were delivered, and begin Nightfall deliveries to Ukraine in late 2027.
Sources: UK Parliament Nightfall Delivery Answer, UK Parliament Nightfall Production Answer
A Ministry of Defence answer to Parliament said ballistic missiles developed under Project Nightfall were intended to provide Ukraine with long-range capability as rapidly as possible.
Sources: UK Parliament Nightfall Precision Fires Answer
A UK Parliament daily report recorded a Ministry of Defence answer that Project Nightfall contracts had been signed and would be announced shortly.
Sources: UK Parliament Nightfall Contracts Answer
The UK Defence Investment Plan listed NIGHTFALL as a low-cost ballistic missile among procurement projects being accelerated across the Ministry of Defence.
Sources: UK Defence Investment Plan
