Taurus missile

Taurus is a German/Swedish air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by EADS, Saab Bofors Dynamics and used by Germany and Sweden. It is very similar to the Anglo/French Storm Shadow.

Related Topics:
Cruise missile - EADS - Bofors - Storm Shadow

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The stealthy missile Taurus KEPD 350 has a range in excess of over 350 km and the KEPD 150 has a range of over 150 km. Taurus is powered by a turbojet at mach 0.8~0.9 and can be carried by the Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen and F/A-18 aircraft. The warhead features an initial penetrating charge to clear soil or enter a bunker, then a variable delay fuse to control detonation of the main warhead. The missile weighs about 1,400 kg and has a maximum body diameter of 1 m. Intended targets are command, control and communications; airfield facilities; port facilities; AMS/ammunition storage; ships/submarines in ports and bridges.

Related Topics:
Tornado - Eurofighter Typhoon - Gripen - F/A-18

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mission planners program the missile with the target, air defence locations and planned ground path, then the missile uses a low terrain-hugging flight path guided by Image Based Navigation, Terrain Reference Navigation and GPS to the proximity of the target. Taurus is the world's only precision stand-off guided missile system that is capable of navigating over long distances without GPS support. Once there the missile commences a bunt (climb) manoeuver to an altitude intended to achieve the best probability of target acquisition and penetration. During the bunt, the nose cone is jettisoned to allow a high resolution infra-red camera to see the target area. The missile attempts to match the target image with the planned target. If it can't and there is a high risk of collateral damage, it will steer to a pre-designated crash point instead of risking an inaccurate attack with undesired consequences.

Related Topics:
Image Based Navigation - Terrain Reference Navigation - GPS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taurus is also attracting great interest in other countries. Spain's military bought 43 missiles while Canada and Australia have also expressed interest in the precision stand-off guided missile system.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~