The United Kingdom will develop a ballistic missile with a range of over 500 kilometres for Ukraine

John Gilley near a building damaged by a Russian strike, 9 January 2026.

The United Kingdom plans to develop new tactical ballistic missiles to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities.

This was reported on the British government's official website.

According to government plans, a competition will be announced for the rapid development of ground-based ballistic missiles as part of a project called Nightfall. They must be capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 200 kilograms and hitting targets at a distance of over 500 kilometres.

The report notes that Nightfall missiles can be launched from various transport platforms. They provide for the possibility of rapid salvo launch with immediate repositioning, which will allow the Ukrainian Defence Forces to strike key military targets before Russian troops can respond.

British Defence Secretary John Healey commented on the project after his visit to Ukraine on 8–9 January, which took place against the backdrop of Russia's use of Oreshnik missiles in the Lviv region and a combined missile strike on Kyiv.

«We were close enough to hear the air raid sirens near Lviv during our trip to Kyiv. It was a stark reminder of the massive drone and missile attacks that Ukrainians are facing, even in sub-zero temperatures. We cannot accept this, so we are determined to put advanced weapons in the hands of the Ukrainians who are resisting,» said John Gilli.

UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard stressed that «a secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine» and that the new British long-range missiles «will help Ukraine stay in the fight and give Vladimir Putin another reason to worry».

The Nightfall project aims to support Ukraine, while also serving as a basis for future developments for the British Armed Forces. The deadline for submitting proposals to participate in the project is 9 February 2026, and contracts for development are scheduled to be signed in March 2026.

As a reminder, the British government is considering transferring £8 billion ($10.6 billion) to Ukraine — Russian assets frozen in the country.