If the decision to transfer German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine is made, then the integration of Taurus into the Su-24M will take up to 6 months. It will take 2 months to install the missile on the bombers, and up to 4 months to prepare the personnel involved in the use of such weapons.
In order to integrate Taurus into the F-16 combat aircraft designated for Ukraine, experts predict a timeline of 12 to 18 months would be required.
Read more: In Germany, They Say That Ukrainian Military Need to Undergo Training to Use Taurus Missiles
This was stated by Joachim Knopf, CEO of MBDA Deutschland, during a special event for journalists on 27 October, Janes portal reports.
Knopf also stated that if the decision is made, it will take at least a year to resume the production of Taurus missiles. He specifically cited potential long lead times to acquire critical "electronic components and explosives.
The publication also reported that MBDA Deutschland managing director Thomas Gottschild said that any decision to restart production of the Taurus KEPD 350 would be dependent on the German government first approving transfers of those missiles to Ukraine.
Interestingly, following the event, MBDA Deutschland's Twitter account posted a slightly different message about the prospects for resuming Taurus production.
According to the report, production of Taurus can be resumed in the short term. As part of this process, new technical advances may be "integrated into the missile" to "preserve the users' capabilities over the next decade."
Defense Express emphasizes certain aspects. Apparently, Germany can currently deploy all the necessary infrastructure to support the decision to transfer Taurus to Ukraine (if and when such a decision is made). Otherwise, it is unlikely that MBDA Deutschland's management would have made the aforementioned calculations.
When it comes to timeframes, in our conditions, the integration period of up to 6 months for Su-24M and 1-1.5 years for F-16 may seem quite extensive, considering that we need Taurus "yesterday." However, from the German standards, this is still relatively fast.
Under what conditions can the russian S-400 not shoot down the Taurus?
This is mentioned in the European Defense Review publication.
"The turbofan allows a maximum speed of Mach 0.95, the operational range being over 500 km, which means that the Taurus can hit a target at that distance while flying nap-of-the-earth for a good part of the mission. Flying at less than 50 meters from ground once on enemy territory, according to the TSG CEO the missile cannot be seen by the russian S-400 GBAD system, also thanks to its stealthy design. Mission data are loaded prior to the mission, the planning phase being crucial in order to optimise the approach route and the attack profile. The Taurus can also be used against area targets, an air burst mode being selectable. The navigation system uses terrain reference and image-based data, therefore the missile can operate also in GNSS-denied environment," Joachim Knopf, TSG CEO, told EDR On-Line during a presentation at the company facility.
We remind that late May, 2023, Media Said That Ukraine was Asking Germany for Taurus KEPD 350 Cruise Missiles.
Defense Express informed earlier also about Capabilities of the German Taurus Missile as well as Prospects of its Production in Ukraine.
Read more: Germany Close To Announce Transfer of Taurus Cruise Missiles to Ukraine Soon
