Taurus is an German/Swedish air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by EADS, Saab Bofors Dynamics and used by Germany and Sweden. It is very similar to the Anglo/French Storm Shadow.

The stealthy missile Taurus KEPD 350 has a range in excess of over 350 km and the KEPD 150 has a range of over 150 km. Taurus 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 weighs about 1,400 kg and has a maximum body diameter of 1 m. 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. Taurus is the world's only precision stand-off guided missile system that is capable of navigating over long distances without GPS support. 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.

Taurus is also attracting great interest in other countries. Spain has a military requirement for a modern stand-off guided missile to arm its Eurofighters and also wants to use this on its F/A 18 aircraft. In the past, the Spanish Air Force has carried out successful captive flights of Taurus KEPD 350 on its F/A 18 aircraft and has spoken in favour of the missile. Canada and Australia are also interested in the precision stand-off guided missile system.

Characteristics KEPD 350

• 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)

• Unit Cost: Germany buy 600 for 570 Mio Dollar
• Date Deployed: 2004
• Aircraft platforms: Typhoon, Tornado, Gripen, F/A-18