(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Efforts to arm the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI)-built FA-50 fighter jets with a more compact variant of the Taurus KEPD 350K-2 cruise missile are steadily becoming a reality.
According to weapons analyst Mason (@mason_8718) on platform X, Taurus System GmbH—the developer of the Taurus cruise missile—is reportedly set to collaborate with KAI, the manufacturer of the FA-50 light combat aircraft, and LIG Nex1, renowned for its advanced weapons systems development.
“The Taurus KEPD 350K-2 cruise missile is more compact than the standard KEPD 350 but delivers the same level of performance,” Mason stated.
With the integration of the more compact Taurus KEPD 350K-2, the FA-50 light combat aircraft will gain additional formidable combat capabilities.
This compact variant of the Taurus cruise missile is expected to have a strike range similar to the original KEPD 350 at approximately 500 km.
However, there is speculation that its range could be extended to 800 km. The Taurus KEPD 350K-2 is categorized as a Medium-Range Air-Launched Cruise Missile (MALCM).
Taurus KEPD 350K-2
Mason further noted that potential customers for the compact Taurus KEPD 350K-2 include current operators of the FA-50 fighter jets, such as South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Iraq, and Malaysia.
In 2023, Malaysia signed a contract worth RM4 billion to acquire 18 FA-50M (Block 20) light fighter jets.
The first batch of these aircraft is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.
During the ADEX 2023 exhibition in Seoul, South Korea, LIG Nex1 and Germany’s Taurus Systems GmbH reportedly signed an agreement to develop a cruise missile tailored for the FA-50 light fighter jet.
The two companies have allocated three years to develop this missile to meet the demands of existing FA-50 operators worldwide.
The integration of the Taurus KEPD 350K-2 cruise missile is expected to significantly enhance the FA-50’s appeal to potential buyers.
(kredit X Platform)FA-50
Currently, the South Korean Air Force operates the standard Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles, deployed on its F-15K fighter jets.
These missiles are primarily used to target command and control centers and fortified bunkers housing North Korea’s conventional and nuclear missile stockpiles.
However, due to its size, the standard Taurus KEPD 350 is unsuitable for the FA-50, prompting the latest collaboration between LIG Nex1 and Taurus Systems GmbH to develop a more compact variant.
Media reports indicate that the Taurus KEPD 350K-2, designed for the FA-50 through this South Korean-German partnership, will weigh approximately 900 kg.
Both companies reportedly aim to incorporate South Korean-made components such as navigation and guidance systems, warheads, and engines into the missile.
This strategy is intended to circumvent stringent export controls imposed by the United States and Germany, thereby enabling the Taurus KEPD 350K-2 to be marketed to a broader range of FA-50 operators, including Malaysia. — DSA