German Military Modernizes TAURUS Cruise Missiles, Enhancing Their Lethality

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – European defence giant MBDA, in collaboration with SAAB through their joint venture TAURUS Systems GmbH, has signed a contract with the German Armed Forces to modernize and maintain the TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missiles.

The agreement ensures the operational readiness of the cruise missile system—also known as a stand-off weapon system—through at least 2045.

The missile system will undergo significant technological upgrades to meet the evolving demands of modern weaponry.

“A central component of this contract is the comprehensive modernization of the TAURUS cruise missiles used by the German Armed Forces,” the companies stated in a recent announcement.

“In addition to maintenance, the system will receive technological enhancements to address the growing demands placed on modern weapon systems.”

This modernization effort is expected to significantly boost the stand-off weapon capabilities of the German Armed Forces as the TAURUS cruise missiles play a critical role in the strategic deterrence capabilities of both the German Air Force and NATO.

The TAURUS cruise missile is a German-Swedish precision-strike weapon designed for high-accuracy attacks on fortified and strategic targets.

The missile is equipped with the “Programmable Intelligent Multi-Purpose Fuze” (PIMPF), which, according to military analysts, enables it to effectively and accurately strike hardened targets such as bridges.

Developed by TAURUS Systems GmbH—a joint venture between MBDA Deutschland and Saab Bofors Dynamics—the TAURUS cruise missile has been operational since 2006 and is currently in service with Germany, Spain, and South Korea.

Featuring stealth technology, the TAURUS cruise missile has a strike range of over 500 km and is compatible with fighter jets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15K.

Key Technical Specifications of the TAURUS KEPD 350 Cruise Missile:

• Length: 5.1 meters

• Diameter: 1.08 meters

• Wingspan: 2.064 meters

• Weight: 1,400 kilograms

• Warhead: 499 kilograms MEPHISTO dual-stage warhead for penetrating armored and fortified structures

• Engine: Williams P8300-15 turbo fan

• Speed: Mach 0.8 to 0.95

• Range: Over 500 kilometers

• Guidance System: Combines Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, Image-Based Navigation (IBN), and Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) for precise navigation, even in GPS-denied environments

The missile is designed to be launched from various aircraft platforms, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado, Gripen, and F/A-18.

With its high penetration capability, the TAURUS KEPD 350 is well-suited for engaging fortified targets such as underground bunkers, bridges, and other critical military infrastructure. – DSA