Taurus for Storm Shadow cruise missiles UK-Germany deal may strengthen Kyiv's defense.

In the context of the war in Ukraine, a proposal is on the table to overcome German reluctance to deliver long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. The United Kingdom and Germany are discussing a potential missile exchange that would see Berlin send Taurus missiles to the UK, thereby enabling the latter to provide more Storm Shadow missiles to Kyiv. This proposal comes as Germany, under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, maintains its stance against the direct delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, citing fears of escalation with Russia and restrictions imposed by the Missile Technology Control Regime.
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Eurofighter Typhoon IPA 7 with TAURUS (Picture source: MBDA )

The Taurus KEPD 350 missile, with a range of about 500 km and carrying a 495 kg payload, is at the heart of this debate. Its advanced technology makes it particularly attractive to Ukrainian forces facing Russian aggression. However, the potential use of these missiles raises questions about the possibility of escalating the conflict, as well as technical implications, including the need to modify Ukrainian aircraft to enable them to fire the Taurus.

The missile exchange proposal was first suggested in January, drawing inspiration from the "Ringtausch" initiative used by NATO member countries to supply military equipment to Ukraine. Despite its appeal, this option has faced opposition, notably from Marie-Agnès Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Bundestag's Defense Committee, who emphasized the crucial importance of the Taurus missiles for Ukraine and rejected the proposal due to technical constraints.

However, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron recently indicated that discussions were underway, without delving into details to avoid revealing plans to adversaries. Cameron also contested the idea that supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine would lead to escalation, suggesting that restrictions on their use could be implemented.

Concurrently, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her openness to this proposal, describing it as an "option" worth considering. This statement follows months of advocacy for sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv.

Germany's hesitation to directly provide the advanced Taurus missiles, capable of striking targets 500 kilometers away and less visible to detectors, highlights the complexity of decisions regarding military support for Ukraine. As Kyiv continues to request more sophisticated weapons to defend its territory, negotiations between London and Berlin could open a new path to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities without directly exacerbating tensions with Russia.

Defense News March 2024