Solutions must be ground-launched and resilient in a range of environments. 

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking a new cost-effective, tactical ballistic missile under project ‘Nightfall’, a 27 August market engagement notice has revealed.  

Ahead of a future potential requirement, the MoD is calling on industry to submit their proposals for a missile capable of being ground-launched from a mobile platform in a high threat tactical environment, as well as navigating to, and striking, user-programmed coordinates.  

Additionally, it must have a low multispectral signature and be operable in harsh physical environments during both day and night. It must also be resilient against electronic warfare attacks, “complex electromagnetic” environments, and environments with degraded or denied satellite navigation.  

More than two of these missiles must be launched from a single ground vehicle, with each carrying a 300kg high explosive payload on a 600km ballistic trajectory, with some basic manoeuvrability.  

Both flight time and launch time must be rapid, the MoD added, with missiles capable of reaching targets within 10 minutes of launch and being fired from the same launcher within 15 minutes of stopping at a launch location. The ground vehicle must also be capable of making a rapid exit.   

How can industry get involved? 

At this stage, the MoD is looking for industry’s feedback and does not require a complete solution. Those with products that answer only part of the problem are encouraged to collaborate with other companies in a similar position.  

The target cost is GBP500,000 per unit, excluding the warhead, launcher, and any development costs. At least five units are required within nine to 12 months for trials.  

Dependent on further contract, manufacturing of the missiles must then be scalable to meet a requirement of 10 units a month, with an ability to increase further. Designs should also minimise or be free from foreign government trade and usage restrictions and must have the capacity for future upgrades.