Sweden Enhances Gripen Fighter Jet with Cutting-Edge Taurus Cruise Missiles
Sweden has commenced discussions with Germany to secure and integrate the Taurus KEPD-350 air-launched cruise missile onto its Saab JAS 39 Gripen C fighter aircraft. As per an official report from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the missile is set to be implemented with an initial capability on the Gripen C, followed by a subsequent integration planned for the Gripen E under the MS23 project.
FMV has been assigned the responsibility of acquiring the Taurus KEPD-350 from Germany and overseeing its integration on the Gripen C. Saab has been instructed to carry out time-sensitive tasks for integration assessments, which will evaluate the technical specifications for the missile’s usage. The anticipated operational deployment, including deliveries of the MS20 Block 4 software enhancement, is projected by 2028.
The Taurus KEPD-350 is a long-range precision-guided missile co-developed by Germany and Sweden, engineered for deep strikes against fortified and hardened targets. Although it was initially designed for compatibility with the Gripen platform, Sweden has not previously obtained the system.
This choice aligns with Sweden’s extensive air force modernization plan, which involves gradually decommissioning 45 Gripen C/D aircraft from its existing fleet of 105. These will be substituted with newly manufactured Gripen E/F fighters, while 60 current Gripen C/Ds will undergo upgrades to preserve operational functionality.
The Gripen has previously showcased the Taurus missile at air exhibitions, but it remains uncertain whether live-fire evaluations have taken place. The upcoming integration initiative will ascertain the essential modifications required for the aircraft and its armament systems.
As a NATO member, Sweden might also investigate alternative strike solutions such as the American AGM-158 JASSM, already operational with allied nations like Poland. Nevertheless, the Taurus KEPD-350 remains a highly proficient option, comparable to the British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missile.
The Taurus missile boasts a range of 500 km, flies at high-subsonic velocities (Mach 0.95), and can function at very low altitudes to evade detection. It features a 481 kg MEPHISTO warhead, designed to penetrate deeply into hardened structures with a dual-stage detonation mechanism.
