First Flight of TAURUS KEPD 350 Precision-Guided Missile Successful
MUNICH/VIDSEL --- After an extremely short development time, the Autonomous Stand-off Missile System TAURUS KEPD 350, intended for the TORNADO and the EUROFIGHTER, completed on Monday the first successful free flight test on the Swedish test range at Vidsel and brought evidence about its operational capabilities. In Munich on Wednesday, TAURUS Systems GmbH, an affiliated company to DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (Dasa, Munich) and Bofors Missiles AB (Sweden) stated that with this flight it has established the technical preconditions to fulfill the requirements of various airforces who have signalled interest in the TAURUS system and, as a consequence, created a billion DM turnover potential. "With this free flight test we have reached an important milestone" declared Manfred Küsters, the general manager of Taurus Systems GmbH. The missile has fully met the requirements with respect to aerodynamics, propulsion and navigation systems during release from a TORNADO combat aircraft and the subsequent free flight over hilly terrain in marginal weather conditions. The test was 100% successful and the maximum range demonstrated. When development started one and a half years ago, a first free flight over sea had been planned which would have subjected the navigation system to less load strain. Due to the fast development progress, however, it was possible to refrain from this interim test and to give preference to the more demanding free flight test over hilly terrain. TAURUS Systems GmbH, based at Schrobenhausen near Ingolstadt, develops a family of modular medium and long range precision weapon systems, the Taurus Missile Family. TAURUS KEPD 350 is designed to equip both, the TORNADO and the EUROFIGHTER combat aircraft. With its outstanding target hit precision and manoeuvrability this system helps to avoid collateral damage. Additionally its capability of being released far from the target area contributes to very high survivability of the aircraft and its pilots. The development contract awarded in 1998 comprises the full scale development and production of 28 test missiles making use of advanced simultaneous engineering technologies and cost effective production processes, such as modular electronic systems, a TriTech navigation system (comprising inertial navigation, global positioning system/GPS, terrain navigation and IR waypoint navigation), an infrared seeker head and a high thrust turbo engine to achieve velocities beyond 0,8 Mach at very low altitude, as well as a sophisticated mission planning system and a new fuel management system. Delivery to the German airforce is planned to take place from the year 2002 on. With its successful flight the MAW Taurus system has managed to outpace its competitors in France and Great Britain, as only the German-Swedish missile has so far fulfilled the operational requirements in a free flight over hilly terrain. "The chance to have Germany and other countries procure TAURUS appears excellent now", Mr. Küsters emphasises. It was only recently that the Ministry of Defence at Berlin confirmed that the TAURUS program will not be affected by the reductions of the national defence budget. Experience from recent conflicts has underlined the need of long range precision weapons, so that several European nations have stated their interest in the TAURUS Missile Family.
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First Flight of TAURUS KEPD 350 Precision-Guided Missile Successful
