{"id":650856,"date":"2025-12-23T18:12:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/650856\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T18:12:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:12:19","slug":"germany-awards-contract-for-the-taurus-neo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/650856\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany Awards Contract for the Taurus NEO"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Taurus NEO is an enhanced variant of the German-Swedish Taurus KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile.<\/p>\n

Setting the stage for the development and future production of the German-Swedish Taurus KEPD 350 Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), Germany\u2019s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) signed a contract<\/a> for \u201cpreparing a serial production line\u201d for a new \u201ccapability enhanced\u201d variant of the weapon, called Taurus NEO.<\/p>\n

A Dec. 18, 2025, statement from MBDA Deutschland said the development allows the company \u201cto produce large quantities in Germany.\u201d This also comes nearly a year from a \u201cMajor Overhaul 2\u201d contract that MBDA received<\/a> by the BAAINBw on Dec. 20, 2024<\/a>, for maintenance and modernization of the weapon at the firm\u2019s Schrobenhausen facility to extend its service life with the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) \u201cuntil 2045.\u201d<\/p>\n

The German-Swedish missile is developed by Taurus Systems GmBH, a joint venture between MBDA and Saab. The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) had acquired roughly 600 Taurus KEPD 350 ALCMs for the Luftwaffe\u2019s Tornados between 2005 and 2010, a role that later went to its Eurofighters. The full integration and operational capability of the two platforms is still in process as of July 2025, according<\/a> to MBDA Deutschland, and German reports<\/a> have noted the same 2040s-2045 timeline to keep the missile in service.<\/p>\n

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Das @BaainBw<\/a> hat die Serienvorbereitung f\u00fcr die Modulare Abstandswaffe Taurus Neo in Auftrag gegeben. Die Produktion f\u00fcr den Nachfolger der eingef\u00fchrten Taurus soll ab 2029 beginnen.https:\/\/t.co\/AWY1oJ8tij<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Europ\u00e4ische Sicherheit & Technik (@esutde) December 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Current and older Taurus KEPD contracts<\/strong><\/p>\n

MBDA Deutschland explicitly says the new contract pertains to a \u201cserial production line\u201d for the Taurus NEO currently being developed, in order to prepare ground for its manufacturing following that future award. In fact, the contract with the BAAINBw prepares a \u201cserial production line to produce a capability enhanced TAURUS NEO stand-off guided missile system,\u201d and \u201cMBDA plans to produce large quantities in Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n

MBDA\u2019s executive group director Thomas Gottschild said in the press release: \u201cMBDA has always been committed to delivering decisive capabilities that ensure European sovereignty. With TAURUS NEO, Germany is specifically building up its state-of-the-art deep strike capabilities, thereby providing a critical contribution to the deterrence capabilities of Europe and NATO. In so doing, MBDA demonstrates its unique expertise in Europe, offering a comprehensive portfolio of deep strike solutions launched from the ground, air, surface, and sub-surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

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TAURUS upgrade incoming!
Deutschland beauftragte Ende letzten Jahres die Wartung & Modernisierung der Bundeswehr TAURUS Marschflugk\u00f6rper.
So viel kann an dieser Stelle verraten werden, die Vorbereitungen laufen intern bereits mit Hochdruck an. https:\/\/t.co\/WpfYGBJILT<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Dw3kxF5jzO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MBDA Deutschland (@MBDADeutschland) February 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

MBDA\u2019s press release noted over 500 km range for the missile, yet the framing is not clear if it pertains to the future NEO or the existing Taurus KEPD 350, which too can touch distances around the same range.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Taurus missile enables the German Air Force to overcome enemy air defence systems from a safe distance, minimizing the risks to pilots and platforms,\u201d said MBDA. \u201cWith a range of over 500 kilometres and the highest standards in terms of precision, TAURUS makes an important contribution to deterrence and to national and allied defence.\u201d<\/p>\n

The serial production line\u2019s contract enables \u201cthe earliest possible availability of the first systems,\u201d as well as \u201cfurther development of new and advanced capabilities, and the expanded production capacity of the TAURUS modular stand-off weapon.\u201d Hartpunkt<\/a> added that the production line contract also followed a larger \u20ac450 allocation by the Bundestag\u2019s budget committee, out of which \u20ac415 million is meant for the manufacturing.<\/p>\n

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Zuk\u00fcnftige Bundeswehr Tr\u00e4gerplattform des TAURUS in Aktion.
Die Eurofighter von \u2066\u2066@Team_Luftwaffe<\/a>\u2069 werden f\u00fcr den Einsatz des Marschflugk\u00f6rpers zertifiziert. pic.twitter.com\/JLjgfg1BkI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MBDA Deutschland (@MBDADeutschland) July 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe manufacturer is expected to use these funds, among other things, to procure long-lead components.\u201d These include raw materials, components and \u201cspecific explosives\u201d with \u201cdelivery times of one to two years,\u201d Hartpunkt noted.<\/p>\n

The December 2024 Major Overhaul 2 award meanwhile involved a \u201ccomprehensive modernization\u201d of the existing Tauris KEPD 350 in German stocks. \u201cIn addition to maintenance, the system will receive technological upgrades to meet the increasing demands placed on modern weapon systems,\u201d said the statement.<\/p>\n

The Taurus KEPD 350 ALCM<\/strong><\/p>\n

The name TAURUS is an acronym for Target Adaptive Unitary and Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System. The Taurus KEPD 350 ALCM<\/a> is in the same class as the British-French Storm Shadow<\/a>\/SCALP-EG, or the Turkish SOM-J<\/a>, with a range between 400-500 km.<\/p>\n

The heavy-hitting munition is ideal for deeply buried, fortified and hardened land targets housing infantry bunkers, logistical, command and control nodes and possibly even hardened aircraft shelters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Taurus KEPD 350 missile being \u2018chased\u2019 in flight, possibly by a ROKAF F-35A or KF-16. (Image credit: Yoo Yong-won TV)<\/p>\n

The weapon\u2019s guidance and navigation suite comprises a tri-mode INS-GPS-TRN (Inertial Navigation System-Global Positioning System-Terrain Reference Navigation) system, with the endgame dictated by an image referencing seeker.<\/p>\n

The missile has top-mounted folding wings which deploy upon launch, X-shaped tail fins and protruding side-intakes for its air-breathing engine. Flying terrain-hugging altitudes of 35 meters, the Taurus KEPD 350 touches almost Mach 1 at 1,170 km\/h (Mach 0.95). Its 481 kg dual-stage MEPHISTO (Multi-Effect Penetrator High-Sophisticated and Target Optimized) warhead delivers primary and secondary charges for plowing through heavily fortified structures.<\/p>\n

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Joachim Knopf, Gesch\u00e4ftsf\u00fchrer Taurus Systems GmbH: \u201eSowohl die #Taurus<\/a> Neuproduktion, die Plattformintegration als auch die \u00dcberholung der Best\u00e4nde k\u00f6nnen wir kurzfristig anschieben. Voraussetzung ist die Beauftragung durch den Kunden.\u201c pic.twitter.com\/Kw20yyVC4a<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MBDA Deutschland (@MBDADeutschland) January 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) is another major operator of the missile, using it from its F-15K Slam Eagle fighters. Sweden too decided to acquire the missile in February 2025<\/a>, to be integrated on its Saab JAS39 Gripen C\/D fighters.<\/p>\n

Taurus NEO<\/strong><\/p>\n

As per Hartpunkt<\/a>, Taurus NEO\u2019s upgrades is likely to include a new and longer ranged propulsion system over the current U.S.-made Williams International P8300-15 turbofan engine. This is to primarily address export-control restrictions arising out of American components that would impact international sales.<\/p>\n

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Neues Konzept von MBDA Deutschland. Neben #TAURUS<\/a> soll zuk\u00fcnftig RCM\u00b2 die Truppe verst\u00e4rken.
Eine Besonderheit: RCM\u00b2 wird sowohl von Kampf- und Transportflugzeugen als auch von Fregatten und Landfahrzeugen verschossen werden k\u00f6nnen. pic.twitter.com\/8nSK83eGHi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MBDA Deutschland (@MBDADeutschland) November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Other upgrades would feature improved navigation, targeting and seeker systems. MBDA Deutschland has said in recent concept videos<\/a> that the existing Taurus KEPD 350\u2019s navigation systems possess \u201cmultiple redundancies,\u201d fusing Inertial Navigation System (INS) and \u201caltitude-referenced and image-based navigation\u201d to precisely find its way to the target \u201cwithout GPS.\u201d The missile is following a nap-of-the-earth cruise flight over and around hills and valleys, giving little time for air-defense systems to react.<\/p>\n

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Neuer Flugk\u00f6rper mit #TAURUS<\/a> Genen: RCM\u00b2 ist MBDA Deutschlands L\u00f6sung f\u00fcr ein Teilstreitkr\u00e4fte \u00fcbergreifendes Waffensystem gro\u00dfer Reichweite.
RCM\u00b2 soll einzeln oder als vernetzter Flugk\u00f6rperschwarm von Land-, See- & Luftplattformen eingesetzt werden k\u00f6nnen. pic.twitter.com\/WgCycEjtCS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MBDA Deutschland (@MBDADeutschland) September 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A short September 2024<\/a> by the company shows one RCM\u00b2 \u201ccross-branched weapon system\u201d, derived from the Taurus. How and whether this is related to the NEO, is not known. The missile is optimized for low-observability with a faceted nose and side air-intakes. The nose section is however missing the optical seeker prominently seen in the existing Taurus variant, and is shown capable of being vertically launched from ships, palletized fires from cargo aircraft, and ground vehicles.<\/p>\n