Germany considers possible delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine

2 June, 2023 A Taurus missile on a German Air Force fighter. Photo from open sources Germany continues discussions on the possible transfer of TAURUS long-range missiles to Ukraine.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that a final decision has not yet been made on the issue. The country remains cautious on such matters. "We are very careful on this, I have always made that clear.

And until now, the opinion has not changed," said Boris Pistorius. According to the German Ministry of Defense, Kyiv requested the supply of TAURUS cruise missiles last Friday.

Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Germany

Bundestag deputy Roderich Kiesewetter also spoke in favor of the supply of German cruise missiles to Ukraine.

He stressed that TAURUS cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers can be a "very useful contribution from the German side" and "there should no longer be red lines here." Germany has a small number of these precision-guided missiles, but they will allow strikes on Russian military infrastructure far beyond the front line.

10 years ago, about 600 such cruise missiles were purchased for the Bundeswehr, but only about 150 of them are still combat-ready. TAURUS KEPD 350 long-range aircraft subsonic cruise missile is designed to accurately defeat enemy protected targets at a range of up to 500 km.

TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missile.

Photo credits: Saab

The basic model of the TAURUS missile is equipped with a tandem concrete-piercing warhead.

The weight of the high-explosive charge together with the hull is 400 kg, the total weight of the warhead is 480 kg.

The probability that Russian air defense systems will hit such a missile is very low.