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The cost per missile will be a staggering US$1,077 Million.
Britain has moved to deepen its military support for Kyiv with a new weapons program announced this month.
Details released by London outline a system aimed at extending Ukraine’s reach far beyond current battle lines.
Officials say the effort reflects lessons learned from the war and the changing nature of modern combat.
Long-range plans
The UK government said in a press release on January 11 that it has formally launched development of a new long-range ballistic missile intended for Ukraine’s armed forces, according to a statement on its official website.
The project, named Nightfall, is designed to allow Ukrainian forces to strike targets at distances exceeding 500 kilometers, including logistics hubs, command posts, and infrastructure well behind the front.
British authorities described the missile as part of a broader push to strengthen Kyiv’s ability to hit Russian forces at extended ranges.
Built for jamming
A key requirement of Nightfall is the ability to operate in heavy electronic warfare conditions, UK officials said.
The missile is being developed to function even when GPS and other satellite navigation signals are disrupted, a situation that has become common on the battlefield, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
Planners say the weapon is expected to carry a 200-kilogram high-explosive warhead and achieve a circular error of no more than five meters.
Fast-track push
Nightfall will be launched from mobile platforms capable of firing several missiles in quick succession before relocating to avoid counterattacks.
The Ministry of Defence plans to select three engineering teams by March 2026, each receiving $12.1 million to produce initial prototypes under a rapid development model.
“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.
Wider backdrop
British officials have also set a target cost of no more than £800,000 per missile, with production expected to reach at least 10 units per month for both UK and Ukrainian needs.
London has opened a competitive process for domestic firms to deliver the first missiles for testing as part of the initial phase.
Separately, Healey has said he would detain Russian President Vladimir Putin and bring him to justice for war crimes if given the opportunity, underscoring the political context surrounding the program.
Sources: UK government website, UK Ministry of Defence
