Table Of Content
KEPD stands for ‘Kinetic Energy Penetrator and Destroyer’—hinting at its two-stage MEPHISTO warhead, which weighs 1,090 pounds and is equipped with two laser rangefinders. Growing support in Berlin for transferring Taurus likely springs from the observation that Storm Shadow/SCALP proved effective for Ukraine, yet didn’t result in the dreaded escalation from Russia. For hours after the audio was published Friday by Russian media, German officials did not react at all. Then on Saturday, the Defense Ministry said it was investigating, and Scholz called it a “very serious matter” that required quick clarification. The officers say the rapid deployment of Taurus missiles would only be possible with the participation of German soldiers — and that training Ukrainian soldiers to deploy the Taurus on their own would be possible, but would take months.
Germany's Scholz says sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine is 'out of the question' - POLITICO Europe
Germany's Scholz says sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine is 'out of the question'.
Posted: Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Why Russia worries about Ukraine getting Taurus Missiles
In the past few weeks, reports about these missiles have been popping up everywhere. However, nobody has guaranteed that Ukraine's military will definitely get them. Espreso will explain the story behind their creation, their important features, and why having these cruise missiles matters for Ukraine.
For Germany’s Scholz, Taurus missiles are a bridge too far in Ukraine
German media have suggested that by not allowing the Taurus weapons to be sent to Ukraine the unpopular chancellor was trying to distinguish himself domestically as “Friedenskanzler” or “peace chancellor” ahead of June elections to the European Parliament. Some members of the conservative opposition, and even some in his socially liberal three-party coalition, want to send the missiles to Ukraine. France followed Britain by sending its Scalp missiles, giving assurances that they would not be capable of hitting Russian soil. IRIS-T (infra-red imaging system – tail / thrust vector controlled) is an air-to-air missile manufactured by Diehl BGT Defence. The Taurus missile is suitable for day and night and all weather deployment. The modular design and reliability reduce the lifecycle cost of the system.
Israeli Air Force used Rampage missile to destroy Iranian S-300 site
The main user of these missiles is the German Air Force, known as the Luftwaffe, possessing over 500 Taurus missiles in different versions. The Spanish Air Force also employs these cruise missiles, although their count is ten times smaller. Additionally, the South Korean military is equipped with more than 200 Taurus missiles. For instance, the basic Taurus KEPD 350A works with planes like the European Tornado fighter jets.
Scholz defends refusal to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine - DW (English)
Scholz defends refusal to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Posted: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, the pursuit of precision strike capabilities has led to the development of groundbreaking technologies that redefine the way military operations are conducted. Among these innovations, the TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missile stands as a testament to human ingenuity and strategic prowess. Its full name, Target Adaptive Unitary & Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System / Kinetic Energy Penetrating Destroyer, encapsulates its multifaceted design and purpose. Let us delve into the remarkable features and capabilities that make the TAURUS KEPD 350 a game-changer in the realm of long-range precision weaponry.
Nepo Influencers Are Thriving on Social Media Thanks to Their Famous Parents
This sophisticated system seamlessly integrates various sensors and reference databases, enabling the missile to perpetually monitor its position and dynamically adjust its trajectory. By harnessing real-time data, the missile maintains an unwavering course, effectively circumventing obstacles and adapting to dynamic battlefield conditions. Saab serves the global market of governments, authorities and corporations with products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security.
Propulsion of the air-to-surface missile
They have their own navigation system that uses radar data to compare the landscape with known terrain information while they fly. As they get close to the target, they use an infrared homing head to guide them accurately to the final part of their flight. The Taurus missile was created under the name Taurus, which stands for Target Adaptive Unitary & Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System. This missile was developed in the mid-1990s as a joint effort between the German company LFK (now MBDA Deutschland) and the Swedish company Saab Bofors Dynamics. Their main aim was to make a highly accurate missile for hitting faraway targets. Taurus came from the Swedish aviation cluster missile DWS39, which could only fly 8 km.
Similar missiles and alternatives
TAURUS KEPD 350 combines outstanding penetration of hard and deeply buried targets, and blast and fragmentation of high-value point and area targets with exceptional bridge-and-runway-target kill capacity. Also, it's important to note that Taurus missiles, unlike ATACMS, which we're asking the US for, aren't ballistic. We need Taurus to hit enemy facilities in the back areas of the Russian army in occupied territories. In other words, their job is to damage the enemy from within, not just at the front lines. However, it's possible that if we get ATACMS from the US, it might speed up getting Taurus.
However, Ukraine has understandably held to promises not to use Western weapons for strikes on Russian soil, given its hopes to continue receiving such arms. Germany could also impose locks on missiles pre-delivery to block targeting beyond Ukraine’s border. But Taurus missiles, broadly the same as Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles, could give Ukraine the edge in contesting Russian control in Crimea, an expert has told Newsweek. Taurus KEPD 350 has been proposed as the suitable air-launched high precision stand-off cruise missile for the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. The cruise missile system is in service with the German (Luftwaffe) and Spanish Air Forces.
The missile can be carried by various combat aircraft, such as Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18 Hornet, F-15K Strike Eagle, and Gripen. "That leaves only guided missiles such as Taurus cruise missiles, which the Ukrainian army could use to overcome the minefields laid by the Russians and retake territory," he said. BC MEPHISTO is equipped with a blasting system - PIMPF (Programmable Intelligent Multi Purpose Fuze) with elements of artificial intelligence, made by technology SHAFT (Smart Hard target Attack Fuzing Technology).
Scholz suggested that the German debate over Taurus missiles has lost sight of what Ukraine actually needs now. “What Ukraine is missing is ammunition at all possible distances, but not decisively this thing from Germany,” he said. It is equipped with an integrated mission planning system to determine its flight path.
The missile is made of modular sections which can be configured based on the individual missions. The system remains the only stand-off missile programmable for effect at a specific pre-selected floor. This extraordinary feature is achieved by applying layer counting and void sensing technology. There are some questions over the exact range of the 3,100-pound Taurus, according to Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, Norway.
With image sensors, Taurus can use bridges, rivers or crossroads for orientation. And Taurus determines its position by constantly measuring its own movement. Sébastien Roblin has written on the technical, historical, and political aspects of international security and conflict for publications including 19FortyFive, The National Interest, MSNBC, Forbes.com, Inside Unmanned Systems and War is Boring. He holds a Master’s degree from Georgetown University and served with the Peace Corps in China.
In conclusion, the TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missile stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of precision and effectiveness in modern warfare. Its stealth-oriented design, impressive range and speed, Tri-tech navigation system, and MEPHISTO warhead collectively elevate its status as a technological marvel. As military landscapes continue to evolve, innovations like the TAURUS KEPD 350 will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of strategic engagements.
Ukraine has frequently targeted bridges with its Storm Shadow missiles with mixed results. It can also use a two-way datalink to allow for remote control by an operator while it transmits back video imagery. That could enable the missile’s use against moving targets, such as ships or ground vehicle columns, as well as a reconnaissance role for battle damage assessments before the weapon hits its target. It combines data from an inertial navigation system (INS), MIL-global positioning system (GPS), terrain reference navigation (TRN) and infrared seeker based image based navigation (IBN) sensors.
No comments:
Post a Comment