Taurus is an German-Swedish air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by EADS, Saab Bofors Dynamics and used by Germany and Sweden.
The stealthy missile has a range in excess of over 350km, 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 weights about 1,400kg has a maximum body diameter of 1m. Intended targets are command, control and communications; airfield facilities; port facilities; AMS/ammunition storage; ships/submarines in ports and bridges.
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 IBN (Image Based Navigation), TRN (Terrain Reference Navigation) and GPS (Global Positioning System) to the proximity of the target. 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.
Characteristics
- Primary Function: long-range, air-to-surface missile
- Contractor: EADS, Saab Bofors Dynamics
- Power Plant: Williams WJ 38-15 Turbojet
- Length: 5.1 m
- Diameter: < 1 m
- Launch Weight: 1400 kg
- Speed: Mach 0.8~0.9
- Flying altitude: 30 - 40 m
- Warhead: MEPHISTO/HE 450 kg
- Range: > 350 km
- Fuzes:
- Guidance: IBN (Image Based Navigation), TRN (Terrain Reference Navigation) and MIL-GPS (Global Positioning System)