Germany suggests transferring cruise missiles to Ukraine
23 May, 2023 TAURUS KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile. Photo credits: Saab Germany has suggested that German TAURUS cruise missiles should be handed over to the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The Bundestag deputy Roderich Kiesewetter made a comment in favor of supplying German cruise missiles in an interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). He is one of the most influential German deputies in the field of security and defense and those who continuously support Ukraine. Kiesewetter is a member of the external committee of the Bundestag and a representative of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is an opposition to Scholz's government.
"Ukraine's partners should provide it with everything that it can use in the struggle, and that is allowed by international law," Kiesewetter said.
TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missile. Photo credits: Militarnyi
He emphasized that TAURUS cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers could be a "very useful contribution from Germany" and "there should be no more red lines here." Germany has a small number of these high-precision guided missiles, but they will bring qualitative added value to Ukraine and enable striking Russian military infrastructure far behind the front lines.
"10 years ago, about 600 such cruise missiles were purchased for the Bundeswehr, but only about 150 of them are still operational," the German politician added. Kiesewetter emphasized that it would be much more reasonable to use these guided missiles in Ukraine than to store them in Germany.
TAURUS cruise missile
The TAURUS KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile is designed to inflict high-precision damage on protected enemy targets at a range of up to 500 km. The missile of 1,400 kg in weight and 5 meters in length was developed by Taurus Systems GmbH, a joint venture between MBDA Deutschland and the Swedish company Saab Bofors Dynamics AB.
Germany has ordered 600 combat and 14 Taurus training missiles for its air force.
TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missile. Photo credits: Saab
The base model of the TAURUS missile is equipped with a MEPHISTO (Multi-Effect Penetrator, High Sophisticated and Target Optimized) tandem concrete-penetrating warhead. The leading charge of the warhead is shaped charge, the main charge is high-explosive, which is placed in a high-strength case, the shape of which is optimized for concrete penetration and heavy soil rocks.
The weight of the high-explosive charge together with the case reaches 400 kg, the total weight of the warhead is 480 kg.
TAURUS KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile.
Photo credits: Saab
The warhead detonation system can be programmed for aerial or underground detonation.
In case of air detonation, both charges are detonated simultaneously.