Planning

NIGHTFALL

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

28 Aug 2025 at 08:36

Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

27 Aug 2025 at 15:15

Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has initiated a tendering process under the title "NIGHTFALL", focusing on the development of tactical ballistic missiles. This procurement targets the production of missiles capable of being launched from mobile platforms and is currently at the planning stage. The relevant industry categories are "Air/ground/sea launched cruise missiles" and "Military research and technology." The buying entity has published a market engagement notice to gather industry feedback by the engagement end date on 18 September 2025. The procurement is managed from two locations: MOD Abbey Wood South in Bristol, and Scale Space, White City, London.

This tender presents vast business growth opportunities, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in defence technology. Businesses engaged in propulsion systems, airframe construction, navigation technology, mobile launcher systems, or overall systems integration are particularly well-suited to compete. The MOD is open to partial solutions, fostering collaboration among companies to deliver end-to-end capabilities. The scalability of the proposed solutions will be prioritised, potentially facilitating operations at a minimum production of 10 units per month, thus promising significant and scalable contracts for successful bidders. This procurement method follows an open engagement model, ensuring diverse participation and innovative advancements in military technology.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NIGHTFALL

Notice Description

The User requires a cost-effective, tactical (>600km) ballistic missile, capable of being safely ground launched from a mobile platform in a high threat tactical environment, navigating to and accurately striking a user-programmed co-ordinate. It shall be: operable in harsh physical environments, day and night, of low multispectral signature, resilient in a complex Electromagnetic environment (EME), including within a GNSS denied & degraded environment, and resistant against targeted EW attack and spoofing. Subject to potential future contract, manufacturing shall be scalable to meet operational requirements at a minimum of 10 units per month, with the ability to further increase." Overview: MOD requires the ability to deliver multiple (>2) effectors from a single ground vehicle. Each effector must carry a circa 300kg (high explosive) payload over 600km on a ballistic trajectory, with some basic manoeuvrability. Such solutions are commonly referred to as tactical ballistic missiles. The effector must be able to navigate in a GPS denied environment and strike within 5m of a provided GPS co-ordinate 50% of the time i.e. have a CEP50 of 5m. Flight time must be rapid - able to strike targets within 10 minutes of an effector launch. Similarly, launch time must be rapid - we envision all NIGHTFALL effectors being fired from the same launcher within 15 minutes of stopping at a launch location. Post launch, the ground vehicle/launcher and crew must be able to rapidly leave the area, ideally in 5 minutes. The target effector cost is PS500,000 all-up per unit, excluding the warhead, launcher and any development costs. We are looking for technologies that can be packaged within 9-12 months to provide at least five all-up units for trials. The design should minimise and ideally be free from foreign government trade and usage restrictions, such as export control. The design must have the ability to be upgraded in the future, such as increasing the range, accuracy, in-flight manoeuvrability, fitted telemetry and other elements as required. At this stage, MOD is keen to understand Industry's feedback to this challenge statement. We do not need to be presented with a complete solution. If your product answers part of the problem we encourage you to participate and network with other companies who can also part of the solution. If you are offering part of the solution, we need you to explicitly state which part of the problem you are answering within the categories of: Propulsion system i.e. Rocket Motors or other systems. Airframe Navigation Ability to scale Mobile launcher systems Systems Integration The project will be prioritising scalability over exquisite solutions. The following could be government furnished (Gfx): Payload Fuzes Testing ranges/facilities Support for scaling Government SME (DSTL, DE&S) advice Please use the following link to attend the Industry day. https://forms.office.com/e/zUpjSPi06d

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-34819dcd-573b-46d8-b5c6-51300dc614d8
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/96bd4458-74ee-448a-8517-e702cc2f7d51
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

35623100 - Air/ground/sea launched cruise missiles

73410000 - Military research and technology

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Aug 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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