Introducing Launcher UK001, call sign ARTEMIS after the goddess of the hunt. Artemis is seen below with the UK vehicle lighting system fitted and the Union Jack displayed front and back.
Artemis will remain in the US to support New Equipment Training and live fire qualification before sailing home later this year.
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 £500,000 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):
MBDA is exploring how it will respond to a UK requirement for a tactical ballistic missile.
“We fully anticipate that we will show interest in that requirement,” an MBDA executive said shortly after the British government in late August said it was interested in that kind of system.
The UK Defense Ministry last month issued a request for information (RFI) for a low-cost tactical ballistic missile capable of hitting targets 600 km (370 mi.) away, with a price tag of around £500,000 ($675,000).
MBDA would likely work with partners to respond to the request, though the process of identifying possible technical and businesses arrangements is only starting given the recency of the request, the official said.
Militaries in Europe have shown growing interest in conventional ballistic missiles. France also is exploring the technology. During the Paris Air Show, ArianeGroup, a joint venture of Airbus and Safran, unveiled a concept weapon of the type.
Airbus also is a joint venture partner in MBDA, along with BAE Systems and Leonardo. The MBDA official said Airbus’ involvement in the other project would not limit its own pursuit of conventional ballistic missile opportunities.
Our Deputy CEO, Lt Gen Simon Hamilton, had the pleasure of accompanying UK Ministry of Defence Secretary John Healey and Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger for a virtual ground-breaking ceremony today at #DSEI2025 to signify the start of the new UK Gun Hall in Telford.
This crucial facility will:
🇬🇧 Bring large-calibre barrel manufacturing back to the UK.
🇬🇧 Create more than 100 jobs, strengthening the supply chain.
🇬🇧 Support the British Army 's future capabilities such as the Challenger 3.
