Germany's potential missile aid: Strategic edge for Ukraine
The new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, during an interview with ZDF, did not rule out the possibility of delivering Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles to Ukraine. We explore the capabilities of this weapon and what it can offer to the Ukrainians.
In the ZDF interview, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that supplying Ukraine with Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles is not off the table and could be considered in the coming months. He also pointed out that transferring these missiles would require several months of training to operate them effectively.
A competitor of Storm Shadow, created through German and Swedish collaboration
The Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile is the product of a collaboration between Germany and Sweden, initiated in the 1990s. This partnership emerged after Germany abandoned a joint long-range weapons development program with France in the 1980s due to political reasons.
After Germany withdrew from the agreement, the UK stepped in, leading to the development of the Storm Shadow missile. Meanwhile, Germany partnered with Sweden to create their missile, resulting in the Taurus KEPD 350, which was introduced in 2005. The name stands for Kinetic Energy Penetration Destroyer.
Taurus KEPD 350 - similar to Storm Shadow, yet unique
The Taurus KEPD 350 missile boasts a range exceeding 500 kilometres and features stealth technology. It's designed to be about 5 metres long and weighs around 1,400 kilograms, intended for launch from aircraft. It is equipped with a turbojet engine and folding wings. Once launched, the missile flies close to the ground at a subsonic speed of approximately 0.8 to 0.9 Mach.
While not as fast as some other designs, its stealth technology and ability to fly at low altitudes, using natural features like riverbeds and ravines, make it challenging to detect.
To navigate in these conditions, it relies on an inertial and satellite navigation system, complemented by an optoelectronic head equipped with a fourth-generation infrared sensor (IIR for Imaging Infrared). This technology allows for thermal vision of the target and mapping of the surrounding terrain, ensuring point accuracy in the final phase of flight and precise navigation even when satellite navigation is unavailable, provided the missile is equipped with the latest digital terrain map.
The resemblance to the highly valued Storm Shadow missiles, which Ukrainians appreciate, is noteworthy. However, Taurus missiles possess a globally unique feature: the MEPHISTO warhead, which weighs approximately 480 kilograms. MEPHISTO, or Multi-Effect Penetrator, Highly Sophisticated and Target-Optimized, features a specially designed fuse.
The warhead not only allows for detonation on impact or in the air but also offers a delayed detonation capability, for example, after penetrating two walls. The fuse features special sensors that can detect obstacles and voids, allowing for precise detonation at a specific level within a bunker. This represents a significant advancement over other missiles, where the detonation delay must be manually set using estimation data such as wall thickness.
This innovation reduces the risk of incorrect delay settings, significantly increasing the likelihood of successful strikes on critical targets such as command centres or bridges. In one instance, a bridge remained standing due to the Storm Shadow missile's warhead detonating at the wrong moment – a problem that the Taurus missile could potentially overcome.
