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2026-07-16 13:46:13
[UK accelerates development of next-generation ballistic missile, lowers targets to aim for delivery to Ukraine by 2027] (1) The UK has signed contracts with several defense companies to complete the development of its first ballistic missile in more than 50 years by the end of next year, codenamed "Project Nightfall". (2) To expedite the process and aim for delivery to Ukraine by 2027, the UK Ministry of Defence has lowered some technical targets after listening to industry feedback: the original target of over 600 km range, 300 kg warhead, and a cost of less than £500,000 per missile has been adjusted to a range of 500 km, a warhead of 200 kg, and a cost ceiling of £800,000. (3) The missile will begin test firings within the next 12 months, and the manufacturing company must complete a successful test firing before it can obtain a production contract; ballistic missiles typically take more than 10 years from development to deployment, and the UK's last large-scale ballistic missile project dates back to the 1970s.
