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The cruise missile of the “Taurus” type flies hundreds of kilometers and can destroy bunkers and other well-secured facilities such as ammunition depots. This is exactly what makes the weapon system so valuable for Ukraine.
The Bundeswehr describes the rocket-shaped Taurus KEPD-350 as one of “the most modern missiles in the Luftwaffe”. The name is an abbreviation for the English terms “Target Adaptive Unitary and Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System and Kinetic Energy Penetrator and Destroyer”.
The Bundeswehr describes the “combatting of important targets over long distances” as a major strength of the system. This means that since the Taurus KEPD-350 has a range of up to 500 kilometers according to the manufacturer, pilots do not have to penetrate enemy airspace to fire it. The weapon system can currently be used with the “Tornado” combat aircraft and the “Eurofighter”, among others.
The approximately five meters long and almost 1400 kilograms heavy missiles are equipped with their own engine and a total of four independent navigation systems. It orients itself using data about the terrain and compares its location using image and infrared sensors as well as GPS data.
480 kg heavy warhead system
Taurus can fly under enemy radar at high speeds less than 50 meters above the ground. This makes it difficult for them to be hit by enemy anti-aircraft defenses. Upon impact with the target, a first charge blasts a gap in the target’s wall or ceiling. According to the Bundeswehr, “strongly hardened target structures” can be broken through in this way. Bunker systems, among other things, are mentioned in this context. The 480-kilogram “Mephisto” warhead system is supposed to explode there. The name is an abbreviation for “Multi-Effect Penetrator High Sophisticated and Target Optimized”.
The guided missile was manufactured by Taurus Systems GmbH. It is a joint venture between the German subsidiary of the European armaments group MBDA and Saab Dynamics from Sweden.
Unit price: one million euros
The Bundeswehr has had the system since 2005. At that time, the Ministry of Defense ordered a total of 600 missiles, according to the Bundeswehr. A copy cost around one million euros at the time. According to FDP defense politician Marcus Faber, only 150 Luftwaffe Taurus cruise missiles are now operational. However, he assumes that the other 450 could be made functional again by the manufacturer for export to Ukraine.
limit range?
With a range of more than 500 kilometers, the cruise missiles could also reach Russian territory. Apparently this could be limited technically. This is to prevent Ukraine from launching attacks on Russian territory with the long-range weapon systems. There are several conceivable possibilities: The weapon system could be reprogrammed in such a way that its range is limited and it can only fly 300 kilometers, for example. Politicians like the CDU foreign affairs expert Roderich Kiesewetter assume that such a limitation of the range would be technically possible. According to Kiesewetter, reprogramming should take a few weeks.
Another possible constraint would be an area constraint – so that Taurus can use its full range, but only as long as the cruise missiles don’t enter Russian territory. Experts also think this is feasible, but have doubts about its usefulness. With both variants of the restriction, it is also questionable whether Ukrainians could not reverse them themselves if in doubt.
(Source: dpa/AFP)