Project Nightfall: the UK’s request for a tactical ballistic missile
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approached industry to acquire a tactical ballistic missile capable of being launched from a mobile platform on the ground.
Dubbed ‘Project Nightfall’, the criteria, published on 27 August 2025, specifies the military’s vision for a missile with a range of more than 600 kilometres (km), a short-range capability, and a “rapid” flight time, meaning it is able to strike targets within ten minutes of launching.
Likewise, the launch time must be just as quick, with all Nightfall effectors being fired from the same launcher within 15 minutes of stopping at a launch location. Post launch, the ground vehicle/launcher and crew must be able to leave the area, ideally within five minutes.
There is an emphasis on low-cost, scalable production at a potential rate of ten units per month.
Specific criteria for Nightfall
Each effector must carry a ~300 kilogramme (kg) high explosive payload on a ballistic trajectory with some basic manoeuvrability. It is worth noting that ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target.
In this case, the UK government requires that this particular missile must be able strike within five metres of a GPS coordinate 50% of the time. This is a distinctive performance metric and a highly advanced feature of tactical ballistic missiles.
Nightfall will cost £500,000 all-up per unit, excluding the warhead, launcher and any development costs. The MoD are looking for technologies that can be packaged within nine to 12 months to provide at least five all-up units for trials.
In addition, the capability must be operational in harsh physical environments, day and night; of low multispectral signature; resilient in a complex electromagnetic environment, including in a GNSS denied and degraded environment; and resistant against targeted electronic warfare attack and spoofing.
As with all UK weapons system requirements, the design must have scope to improvement on an iterative basis. The weapon must be able to the ability to be upgraded in the future; increasing the range, accuracy, in-flight manoeuvrability, fitted telemetry and other elements as required.
Alternative to ATACMS
Other existing TBM systems include the US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
The ballistic missile contains improved guidance with an internal navigation system with GPS capability, and carries a WDU18, 500lb (230kg) blast fragmentation warhead, with a maximum range of 300km – half that of Nightfall.
Although not listed as a munition provided to Ukraine by the US Department of Defense, it is widely known that the Pentagon has provided an undisclosed number of ATACMS missiles to the war torn nation. The use of the munition has long been considered an escalatory step in the wider geopolitical confrontation that surrounds the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
It is likely that ATACMS missiles will be used to strike military sites inside Russia, such as ammunition and supply depots, which have been a prime target for Ukrainian long-range suicide drones.
According to US Army analysis in 2013, a 113kg blast fragmentation warhead, roughly half of what is fitted to the ATACMS, will have an average hazardous fragmentation distance of 304 metres. In doubling the explosive yield, with potential for airburst options depending on fuze settings, the area of effect of an ATACMS missile could be several hundred metres.
A glimmer of interest from MBDA
The government requirements specified in this initial engagement phase are remarkably precise. Officials demonstrate a clear vision for the concept at such an early stage while they judge the interest from a pool of prospective suppliers.
Among them, MBDA confirmed its interest. One business executive told Army Technology today (29 August) that “MBDA are currently considering it, but fully anticipate that we will show interest in that requirement.”
Europe’s foremost complex weapons builder does not manufacture TBMs at present. However, the group has a strong portfolio of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and area protection systems such as Meteor, Strom Shadow, and Aster to name a few respectively. It is for that reason that MBDA will begin look across its supply chain and conduct market research to consider opportunities for collaboration.
This will likely focus on companies within the UK defence industry as the release states that the design should minimise and ideally be free from foreign government trade and usage restrictions, such as export control.
Additional reporting from Richard Thomas.
