Taurus KEPD 350

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Taurus KEPD-350
A Taurus on display at the 2006 ILA air show
TypeAir-launched cruise missile, Land-attack missile, Anti-ship missile
Place of originGermany and Sweden
Service history
In serviceSince 2006
Used byGermany, South Korea, Spain
Production history
DesignerTaurus Systems GmbH
Designed1995–2005
ManufacturerTaurus Systems GmbH
ProducedSince 2005
Variants
  • KEPD 350
  • KEPD 350 MR
  • KEPD 350K-2
  • KEPD 150
Specifications (KEPD 350)
Mass1,400 kg (3,100 lb)
Length5.1 m (16 ft 9 in)
Width1,080 mm (3 ft 7 in)
Height805 mm (2 ft 7.7 in)
Wingspan2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
WarheadTwo‐stage tandem MEPHISTO penetrator
Warhead weight480 kg (1,060 lb)

EngineWilliams P8300‐15 turbofan
680.4 kgf (6,672 N; 1,500 lbf) thrust
Operational
range
> 500 km (270 nmi; 310 mi)
Maximum speed Mach .95 (323 m/s; 1,060 ft/s)
Guidance
system
INS, GPS, image-based navigation (IBN), RADALT
Steering
system
Four tailfins
Launch
platform
Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS, Saab JAS-39C Gripen, McDonnell Douglas F-15K Slam Eagle, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A+ Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon EF-2000
ReferencesJanes[1]

The Taurus KEPD-350[a] is a German-Swedish air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by Taurus Systems and used by Germany, Spain, and South Korea.[2] Taurus Systems GmbH is a partnership between MBDA Deutschland GmbH (formerly LFK) and Saab Bofors Dynamics.[3]

History[edit]

During the Cold War Germany wanted to buy French Apache missiles, which did not work out. In 1998, Germany funded the development of a powered system to be designated KEPD-350 with the acronym TAURUS (Target Adaptive Unitary and dispensor Robotic Ubiquity System).[4]

The name is Latin for “bull”. First used as an inofficial project name, it was inspired by the cow catapult from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Overview[edit]

The missile incorporates stealth technology and has an official range in excess of 500 km (300 mi).[5] It is powered by a turbofan engine. It can operate at Mach 0.95 and can be carried by Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS, Eurofighter Typhoon EF-2000, Saab JAS-39C Gripen, McDonnell Douglas EF-18A+ Hornet, and McDonnell Douglas F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft.[citation needed]

The dual stage 480-kilogram (1,100 lb) warhead, called MEPHISTO (multi-effect penetrator highly sophisticated and target optimised),[6] features a precharge and initial penetrating charge to clear soil or enter "hard and deeply buried targets" (HDBT) such as hardened underground bunkers, then a variable delay fuze to control detonation of the main warhead. The missile weighs about 1,400 kg (3,100 lb) and has a maximum body diameter of 1 metre (3.3 ft). Intended targets are hardened bunkers; command, control, and communications facilities; airfield and port facilities; ammunition storage facilities; ships in port or at sea; area target attack; and bridges.[7]

The missile includes countermeasures as a self-defence mechanism and electronic countermeasures.[citation needed]

Operation[edit]

Mission planners program the missile with the target, air defence locations and planned ground path. The missile uses a terrain-hugging flight path, guided by inertial navigation system (INS), image based navigation (IBN), terrain referenced navigation (TRN), and Global Positioning System (GPS) to the target. It is capable of navigating over long distances without GPS support.[8][9]

Upon arrival the missile commences a bunt (climb) manoeuvre to achieve the best probability of target acquisition and penetration. During the cruise portion of the flight, a high resolution thermographic camera (infrared homing) can support navigation by using IBN and for GPS-free target attack. The missile attempts to match a camera image with the planned 3D target model (Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator, DSMAC). If it cannot, it defaults to the other navigation systems, or, to avoid collateral damage, it steers to a pre-designated crash point instead of risking an inaccurate attack.[citation needed]

Export[edit]

Spain's military bought 45 missiles. Integration of the missile in Spanish Air Force service was certified by completing a dedicated test campaign in South Africa in May 2009.[10]

In 2013 South Korea planned to order 200 missiles to integrate with their F-15K Slam Eagles after it was prevented from acquiring Lockheed Martin's AGM-158 JASSM by the United States.[11] The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed the deal in November 2013. The KEPD 350 was the first European missile to be integrated onto a South Korean fighter.[12] In October 2016, South Korea announced it would acquire a further 90 missiles, in addition to the 170 previously ordered, in response to North Korean nuclear and missile provocations.[13] On 12 December 2016, the first 40 Taurus KEPD 350K missiles were delivered to the ROKAF.[14][15]

In May 2023, the German Federal Ministry of Defence said that Ukraine had requested the missile during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.[16] In interviews in June and July 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius said that Germany would not supply Ukraine with long-range missiles.[17][18][19] In January 2024, the German Bundestag voted against the supply of the Taurus missile to Ukraine.[20] In February 2024, the German Bundestag and Chancellor Olaf Scholz again expressly refused Ukraine's request while agreeing to deliver longer range weapons.[21][22]

Variants[edit]

A Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile at the ILA air show near Berlin in 2004.

KEPD 350K[edit]

The variant for the ROKAF differs from the baseline model by being equipped with a Rockwell Collins GPS receiver with a Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) to prevent jamming.[23]

KEPD 350K-2[edit]

In October 2015, Taurus Systems revealed it was developing a smaller version of the Taurus missile, called the 350K-2, for use on light fighters, particularly the South Korean FA-50 Block 20 variant of the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle.[24] It is shorter at 4.5 m (15 ft) in length and lighter, weighing 907 kg (2,000 lb) while matching speed and range.[25]

In December 2016, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced plans to start development on a long-range air-to-ground missile in 2018, based on Taurus. The weapon was to be mounted on the KAI KF-21 Boramae fighter, to be developed by the mid-2020s.[26]

Operators[edit]

Map with KEPD 350 operators in blue

Current operators[edit]

 Germany
600 ordered for the German Air Force's Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS and Eurofighter Typhoon EF-2000 at a cost of €570 million.[27] Deliveries ended in December 2010.[28][29]
 Spain
43 ordered for the Spanish Air Force's McDonnell Douglas EF-18A+ Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoon EF-2000.[30] Deliveries ended in August 2010.[29] The program cost €60m.[31]
 South Korea
177 ordered in 2013, delivered in 2016–2017, 90 ordered in 2018, delivered in 2019–2020, and to be operated from the Republic of Korea Air Force's McDonnell Douglas F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jets.[32][33]

Taurus leak[edit]

In February 2024, there was a discussion among German Luftwaffe officers as to how the system could be delivered to Ukraine to target the Crimean Bridge. Four Air Force officers prepared a briefing from Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the topic at an online meeting. A Russian intelligence service, media suspect the GRU, is reported to have intercepted the conversation and published it on the state controlled channel RT-Deutsch. An English translation of the transcript of the conversation was later posted online, though like various news reports it contains a number of errors.[34]

The conversation was conducted via webex.[35] The leak was followed by a public debate about countering Russian espionage in Germany. MAD started investigations. [36][37]

See also[edit]

  • AGM-158 JASSM – American low observable air-launched cruise missile
  • HOPE/HOSBO – German, family of precision-guided glide bombs
  • KD-88 – Chinese anti-ship cruise missile
  • Ra'ad – Pakistani air-launched cruise missile
  • Ra'ad-II – Air-launched cruise missile
  • SOM (missile) – Turkish air-launched cruise missile
  • Storm Shadow – Franco-British cruise missile
  • YJ-22 – Chinese cruise missile
  • CJ-10 – Chinese cruise missile
  • Brahmos – Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile
  • Wan Chien – Taiwanese air-launched cruise missile
  • Joint Strike Missile – Norwegian/American air-launched cruise missile
  • Fateh Mobin – Iranian short-range ballistic missile

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Target Adaptive Unitary and Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System/Kinetic Energy Penetrator and Destroyer.[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Janes (November 21, 2023), "Taurus KEPD 350", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved February 6, 2024
  2. ^ "Abstandslenkflugkörpersystem: Erste Taurus an Südkorea übergeben". Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "Gripen Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, Sweden". Airforce technology. Projects. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  4. ^ "EADS/Bofors TAURUS". June 23, 2011. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Kepd 350". DE: Taurus systems. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  6. ^ "First Taurus Cruise Missiles for Korea". C4Defence. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  7. ^ TAURUS final (Motion picture). TAURUS systems GmbH. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Kepd 350". Defence Update. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  9. ^ Taurus KEPD 350 the modular stand-off missile for precision strike (PDF), MBDA Deutschland GmbH, archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2012
  10. ^ "El Ejército del Aire incrementa su capacidad operativa con la integración del misil Taurus en el F-18". Ejercito del aire (in Spanish). ES: MDE. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
  11. ^ "S. Korea to buy bunker busting missiles from Europe". Reuters. April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  12. ^ "Taurus Systems to open Seoul office this week", The Korea Times, May 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "South Korea plans to buy more Taurus missiles after North Korea's new nuclear test". www.airrecognition.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "First batch of 40 Taurus KEPD 350K cruise missiles arrived in South Korea". airrecognition.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "South Korea starts deploying Taurus cruise missile for combat use". airrecognition.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Ukraine asks Germany to provide Taurus long-range missiles - Berlin - Reuters.com, 27 May 2023
  17. ^ Germany denies Ukraine’s plea for Taurus missiles to help counter Russian air power - AlArabiya.net, 2 July, 2023
  18. ^ Gazeta.ua (June 27, 2023). "Німеччина відмовляється надати ЗСУ далекобійні ракети Taurus". Gazeta.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "Через две недели ФРГ примет решение по истребителям Украине – DW – 05.06.2023". dw.com (in Russian). Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Hasselbach, Christoph. "Ukraine: Germany will not supply Taurus cruise missiles". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  21. ^ "Germany's Scholz rules out sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  22. ^ "Germany's Bundestag votes against Taurus missiles to Ukraine". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  23. ^ Jennings, Gareth (October 14, 2016). "South Korea begins receiving Taurus cruise missiles". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  24. ^ "South Korea plans to arm its FA-50 light combat fighters with new variant of the Taurus missile". www.airrecognition.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "Taurus-LIG Nex1 developing KEPD 350K-2 for FA-50". Janes Information Services. December 8, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023.
  26. ^ "South Korea plans to develop Taurus-based air-to-ground missile". airrecognition.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  27. ^ "Taurus". EADS. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
  28. ^ "MBDA Delivers 600th TAURUS KEPD 350 to German Luftwaffe" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 23, 2020.
  29. ^ a b Hoyle2010-12-14T16:00:00+00:00, Craig. "Germany receives last Taurus cruise missile". Flight Global. Retrieved February 26, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Principales programas (in Spanish), Spain: MDE, archived from the original on October 20, 2008.
  31. ^ "Evaluación de los Programas Especiales de Armamento (PEAs), Ministerio de Defensa" (PDF). Atenea (in Spanish). Madrid: Grupo Atenea. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 24, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  32. ^ "(LEAD) S. Korea buys more Taurus missiles amid N.K. nuke threats". South Korea: Yonhap. October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  33. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (July 10, 2017). "This Is How South Korea Plans to Stop a Nuclear Attack from North Korea". The National Interest. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  34. ^ "Full Transcript of German Top Military Officials' Leaked Plot to Attack Crimean Bridge", Bundle, March 2024. Available at: https://www.bundle.app/en/breakingNews/full-transcript-of-german-top-military-officials'-leaked-plot-to-attack-crimean-bridge-15a59c62-f695-4d07-852d-788455d17230
  35. ^ deutschlandfunk.de. "Spionageverdacht bei der Bundeswehr - Was bisher über den Fall bekannt ist". Die Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  36. ^ "Bundeswehr abgehört: Union stellt Scholz' Glaubwürdigkeit infrage". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  37. ^ "Luftwaffe-Leaks: „Ein Informationskrieg, den Putin führt" – Augen geradeaus!". augengeradeaus.net. Retrieved March 4, 2024.

External links[edit]