Missile Taurus KEPD 350

Development of the KEPD-350 began in 1998 following the cancellation of German plans to acquire the French Apache missile. The system was developed as a powered stand-off weapon under the Target Adaptive Unitary and Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System program and entered service in 2006.

The missile utilizes stealth technology and is powered by a turbofan engine for subsonic flight. It is designed for land-attack and anti-ship missions, specifically targeting hardened bunkers, command and control facilities, airfields, and port infrastructure. The system employs the MEPHISTO tandem warhead, which utilizes a precharge to clear soil or penetrate hardened structures before a variable delay fuze detonates the main charge inside the target. Guidance is provided by a combined suite of inertial navigation, Global Positioning System, image-based navigation, and terrain-referenced navigation. The system can navigate over long distances without GPS support. In the terminal phase, a high-resolution thermographic camera performs digital scene matching against a programmed 3D target model. If the system cannot confirm the target, it is programmed to steer to a pre-designated crash point to prevent collateral damage.

The missile is widely deployed and has been exported to several countries. It is currently operated by the air forces of Germany, Spain, and South Korea, where it is integrated onto Panavia Tornado IDS, Eurofighter Typhoon, EF-18A+ Hornet, and F-15K Slam Eagle platforms. Sweden announced the adoption of the system for the JAS 39 Gripen in 2025. Several variants exist, including the KEPD 350K with an anti-spoofing GPS receiver and the KEPD 350K-2 designed for light fighter aircraft. Development of a next-generation variant, designated Taurus Neo, was approved in late 2025 to improve guidance and warhead performance.

The system has not seen confirmed combat use, but it was the subject of a security incident in February 2024. Russian intelligence intercepted and published a recorded conversation between high-ranking German Air Force officers discussing the technical requirements for potentially employing the missile against the Crimean Bridge. This leak occurred amid ongoing diplomatic requests from Ukraine for the system, which the German government repeatedly declined through early 2024.