(VIDEO) Watch South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle Launch “Taurus” Cruise Missile

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The South Korean Air Force has conducted a “Taurus” missile launch exercise, marking the first such drill in seven years, amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to North Korea’s continued ballistic missile tests.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense released video footage showing an F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jet launching the Taurus cruise missile.

The exercise is believed to have taken place on October 8 and 10.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, which cited Air Force officials, the Taurus cruise missile flew approximately 400 km, successfully striking its target in the Yellow Sea.

The last time South Korea launched a Taurus missile in a drill was in 2017, in response to North Korea’s nuclear tests.

The Taurus missile, capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,163 km/h, can strike key North Korean military facilities just 15 minutes after being launched from South Korean airspace over Seoul.

Equipped with stealth technology, the missile boasts high precision and can penetrate concrete walls, enabling it to target North Korea’s underground bunkers.

In addition to the Taurus missile launch, the South Korean Air Force announced that it had conducted interception exercises involving F-35A and F-16 fighter jets to counter cruise missiles.

The Air Force is believed to use the Taurus KEPD 350K variant with its F-15K Slam Eagle fighters, following an initial procurement contract signed in 2013, with missile deliveries reportedly starting in 2016.

South Korea is also believed to have signed an additional contract in 2018 for 90 more Taurus missiles.

Developed by a German/Swedish defense company, the long-range Taurus missile has a range of up to 500 km and is known for its high accuracy.

The missile weighs between 1,300 kg and 1,400 kg and features a Programable Intelligent Multi-Purpose Fuze (PIMPF).

According to military analysts, the PIMPF fuze enhances the missile’s effectiveness in hitting precision targets such as bridges.

The long-range cruise missile also uses a Terrain Contour Matching System.

Previously, it was reported that Ukraine had expressed interest in acquiring the German-made Taurus missile to counter Russian advances and cut off supply routes.

However, Berlin has expressed concerns that sending the missile to Ukraine could draw Germany into an open conflict with Russia.

“It’s a weapon with significant impact, similar to what the UK and France have done by sending Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Germany cannot be part of this,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin in February.

Scholz has resisted pressure from various quarters to give the green light for the transfer of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. — DSA