The UK plans to develop its own ballistic missiles and supply them to Ukraine — media reports
This was reported by Bloomberg.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the country’s Ministry of Defence has relaxed the technical requirements in order to speed up development and deliver the missiles to Ukraine in 2027.
Defence companies participating in the programme, known as Nightfall, must pass tests successfully before being awarded contracts to manufacture the missiles, the media’s sources said. It was expected that preliminary contracts would be signed by March, but their signing has been delayed by approximately two months. Test launches are due to begin within 12 months, with deliveries scheduled for the end of next year. The development and deployment of ballistic missiles usually takes more than 10 years, notes Bloomberg.
The publication emphasises that the programme has two objectives: to provide Ukraine with everything it needs to combat Russian aggression and, at the same time, to expand Europe’s own defence capabilities in the face of less reliable support from the US.
Initially, the Nightfall missile was envisaged to have a range of over 600 km, a warhead weighing 300 kg and a cost of less than £500,000 ($674,000), excluding the cost of the warhead, the launcher and development costs. Following feedback from industry representatives, these figures were revised downwards to a range of 500 km, a warhead weighing 200 kg and a maximum cost of £800,000 per missile.
This weapon is also to be capable of being launched from various vehicles capable of rapidly firing several missiles in succession.
It should be noted that it was previously reported that Ukraine would be able to purchase Chinese components for drones using a European Union loan.
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