Ukrainian Defense Minister confident about German Taurus missile delivery.

On August 26, 2023, Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, expressed confidence in the delivery of a batch of long-range Taurus Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs) to Ukraine by Germany. However, nothing has been officially confirmed from the German side yet.
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Taurus Air-launched cruise missile (Picture source: MBDA )

For several weeks now, the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine has been eagerly anticipated. Rumors have been swirling, but no official statements have been made by the German government. Recently, Ukraine's Defense Minister declared his confidence in the imminent acquisition of these missiles.

The Taurus air-launched cruise missile is designed in Germany and Sweden. Since its introduction in 2005, it has become a crucial asset in the arsenals of several countries, including Germany, South Korea, and Spain. This impressive missile is the result of joint efforts by Taurus Systems GmbH and MBDA.

The missile weighs approximately 1,400 kg, with a length of 5.1 meters, a height of 0.805 meters, a diameter of 1.080 meters, and wings measuring 2.064 meters. The Taurus is equipped with a 481 kg MEPHISTO military warhead, designed for multi-effect penetration. It is powered by a Williams WJ38-15 turbofan engine, allowing it to achieve speeds ranging from Mach 0.60 to 0.95. The Taurus can reach targets at a distance of over 500 km and generally operates at an altitude between 30 and 70 meters, making it challenging to detect and intercept.

Additionally, it features a sophisticated guidance system that includes image-based navigation (IBN), inertial navigation system (INS), terrain-referenced navigation (TRN), and military GPS (Global Positioning System - MIL-GPS). This combination of navigation systems ensures precision in targeting its objectives. The Taurus is designed to be launched from various aircraft platforms, including the Tornado, F/A-18, and F-15K. It has also been successfully tested on aircraft such as the Gripen and Typhoon.

The delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine seems increasingly imminent. However, Germany has yet to make any announcements or respond to these rumors. While the delivery of a single missile may not be a "game-changer," if the Taurus were to join the Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles already in Ukraine's arsenal, it could have a significant impact on the course of the war in Ukraine.

Taurus Air-launched cruise missile ( Picture Source: Twitter account of Chuck Pfarrer )