Swedish Air Force reported their Gripen C fighter first launched Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile — corresponding footage was published by service on social media. As noted, testing took place at Vidsel Test Range in Norrbotten. Swedish Air Force emphasized Taurus missile for Gripen opens new capabilities for long-range strikes.
For Sweden this is without exaggeration important event, as this involves full long-range capabilities — moreover, work on Taurus integration under Gripen proceeds ahead of schedule, as previously planned was C/D version integration completion no earlier than 2028, and onto newest E/F — by 2032. Although missile testing from fighter does not mean final work completion, one can cautiously assume they will be completed ahead of planned deadline.
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Taurus cruise missile integration onto Gripen is especially interesting primarily for Ukraine, which in coming years will receive both used Gripen C/D and slightly later new Gripen E — but German-Swedish Taurus for our Defense Forces remains inaccessible, despite Germany being major weapons supplier to Ukraine, including within defense assistance.
Moreover, previously even rumors circulated that Taurus missile supply to Ukraine could have been blocked in United States — but MBDA Deutschland categorically denied such possibility, calling this information nonsense.
Defense Express notes Taurus integration on Gripen in no way means Ukraine will automatically receive these long-range missiles. Although for us this naturally could become important combat aviation reinforcement.
At same time recall currently two options exist for how Ukraine can receive Taurus cruise missiles. First is receiving Taurus KEPD 350 from existing stocks — from Germany, Spain and South Korea. Moreover Spaniards have small missile quantity, while South Korea will hardly agree to supply lethal weapons.
Second option is waiting for newest Taurus Neo variant with range of approximately 1,000 km. But waiting will be quite long, as production of these missiles should begin only in 2029, and these may quite be optimistic indicators, with real timelines being longer.
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