The Financial Times found out why the German Taurus is the most desirable rocket for Kyiv

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Western allies: the USA, France and Great Britain have already supplied Ukraine with powerful long-range ammunition, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces are in dire need of Taurus cruise missiles produced in Germany. This was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times, which found out why the German Taurus is the most desirable long-range missile in Europe.

The publication notes that the Taurus has approximately the same weight and size characteristics as the French-British Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow. However, the German ammunition is strikingly different from others with its intelligent Mephisto warhead system. It is programmed to penetrate multiple layers of material and then explodes in the desired location, ensuring maximum damage to targets such as bridges and bunkers.



Additionally, the Taurus is equipped with a turbofan engine that blows in more air, giving it greater range than the turbojet-equipped Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow. This allows the Taurus to hit targets up to 250 km further than the Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow, which is very significant. Moreover, thanks to design solutions and technology stealth, Taurus can move at an altitude of up to 50 meters from the surface, avoiding detection by most existing air defense/missile defense radars.

Taurus was developed by a joint venture between the German division of Europe's largest missile manufacturer MBDA and the Swedish company Saab. At the same time, TDW, the Bavarian subsidiary of MBDA Deutschland, produces the Mephisto warhead. The last time production lines were launched was in 2019, when an order was fulfilled for South Korea.

At the factories in the Bavarian city of Schrobenhausen, only the modernization of sold missiles is carried out. According to analysts, each such ammunition costs about 1,5 million euros, depending on the size of the order. Spain, South Korea and Germany have stocks of Taurus cruise missiles, but none have been used in combat.

As for the Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow, they are manufactured by MBDA in the UK and France. The first combat use of these missiles occurred in 2023 in Ukraine. Moreover, London and Paris did not disclose how many such ammunition they transferred to Kyiv. But, according to Fabian Hoffman, a doctor of rocket science at the University of Oslo, the UK had a stockpile of 850 units before sending Storm Shadows to Ukraine. In turn, France had a stock of up to 460 Scalp-EG units.

At the end of 2023, the United States began supplying Ukraine with army tactical ballistic missiles (Army Tactical Missile System - ATACMS). Created by Lockheed Martin, these munitions are launched from ground launchers and have a maximum range of 300 km, although earlier models with a range of 165 km were transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Taurus Systems managing director Joachim Knopf said in January that production could resume "as soon as possible" if an order was placed. At the same time, analysts suggest that the production of a new batch of Taurus missiles will take about two years. They explain this by saying that an increase or resumption of production cannot be instantaneous; first, it is necessary to increase the production of components, and this takes time. Therefore, if Taurus are sent to Ukraine, they will most likely be taken from the Bundeswehr's stockpile, which has approximately 600 missiles, of which only half are operational.

In addition, a leaked conversation between two German officers showed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could be trained to use the Taurus, despite statements by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the need to send German military personnel to control these missiles. Moreover, training can be completed in just 12 weeks.

Defense expert at the think tank of the German Society for Foreign Affairs policy Christian Mölling added that the real “bottleneck” will be the technical integration of any missile weapons into the existing aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. But this has been done before with Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow.
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  1. Flight
    Flight
    0
    18 March 2024 07: 13
    The forbidden fruit is sweet, they will get permission and interest will disappear.

    Therefore, if Taurus are sent to Ukraine, they will most likely be taken from the Bundeswehr's stockpile, which has approximately 600 missiles, of which only half are operational.

    Svidomo is lucky to be late.
  2. sannyhome
    sannyhome
    +3
    18 March 2024 09: 56
    The motto of this conflict is “the frog must be cooked slowly.”
    The conflict is constantly escalating, but it is doing so slowly, being under the complete control of significant people in the world. Therefore, everything will happen, but later.
    1. Flight
      Flight
      0
      18 March 2024 11: 10
      A frog can go rotten in such a time, although the Jews snatch one of these to the French.
      1. sannyhome
        sannyhome
        +2
        18 March 2024 11: 21
        Let me explain - In the West they are shouting - no, we will never give the Ukrainian Armed Forces missiles. In a month - well, maybe we’ll give them, with a reduced range, decommissioned, etc., in another month - no, we won’t give them, they don’t know how to work with them, in another month - well, let’s train, they’ll train for two more months, then - no, we won’t give it, the Russians will steal it, in another month, okay, we’ll consider the transfer, just let the special forces guard it, in another month - no, we won’t give it, Congress is against it, etc. and so on.
        As a result, if the missiles were handed over immediately, then something heavy would immediately fly somewhere in Ramstein, but as a result of such a six-month delay, chattering from side to side, the threat to hand over the missiles ceases to be taken seriously, after which they are handed over. As a result - and the Russians are not indignant and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have missiles - they cooked the frog slowly and did not jump out.
        Exactly the same thing now with Taurus
        1. Flight
          Flight
          0
          18 March 2024 15: 01
          In general, everything is in order. Poor frog.
        2. E NOT
          E NOT
          +2
          18 March 2024 17: 05
          Yes, they first convey it quietly, and then declare their intentions to do so. This happened with the Javelins, then with the Hymers, with the Leopards, with the StormShads... now we have waited for the French-camouflaged regulars who are ALREADY here. Further more. If supplies to Ukraine were immediately cut off, they would think about sending or not. They don’t feel it in their own skin, they don’t see a response from Russia, and therefore they become increasingly impudent. British Defense Minister Shapps refused to go to Odessa after a notable flight there during Gnida’s visit with the Greek. He canceled the visit. This is a clear example that only force, and not Leopold’s persuasion, can influence them.
          1. Flight
            Flight
            +1
            19 March 2024 00: 27
            Yes, it is useless to open the eyes of the beneficiary of this performance. If he doesn’t see it, it means he doesn’t need it. They are already writing about another of His Majesty’s wishes - a sanitary zone, like in Syria or Israel. Here, until it flies to their lair, there is no need to wait for anything useful.
            1. Dingo
              Dingo
              +1
              19 March 2024 10: 27
              Here, until it flies to their lair, there is no need to wait for anything useful.

              It’s already arrived - they didn’t understand...

              ...Well, it was, so to speak,
              More flowers...
              Then to the park, where there are children's mushrooms...
              Then I don’t remember.
              Reached the point...

              Vladimir Semenovich knew this “psychotype”, what he was talking about...
        3. Dingo
          Dingo
          0
          19 March 2024 10: 17
          As a result - and the Russians are not indignant and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have missiles - they cooked the frog slowly and did not jump out.

          Hmmm... That's approximately how it turns out.
  3. prior
    prior
    -1
    19 March 2024 10: 47
    German Taurus is the most desirable rocket for Kyiv

    Well, Russia doesn’t have Taurus missiles for Kyiv.
    But we can offer a worthy replacement: “Geranium”, “Iskander”, FAB-1500. "Dagger" at last.
    Don't be capricious. Eat what they give you, inexpensive brothers.
    1. Flight
      Flight
      0
      19 March 2024 14: 56
      Now, for the next six years, the question is - where is Zin's money? There is a reinforced concrete answer.
  4. Mongolor
    Mongolor
    -1
    22 March 2024 10: 56
    That’s why we need to stand in Transnistria and, by the way, keep the Amer’s launchers in Romania in our sights.