Germany boosts missile arsenal with 2.1 billion euro deal

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed the plans to acquire Taurus Neo missiles in an interview for the newspaper Der Spiegel. The cost of this endeavour could reach up to 2.1 billion euros, and the German army would receive as many as 600 of these missiles.

The specifications for Taurus Neo are unknown, but it will most likely be an upgrade to the well-known Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles. This long-range weapon allows targets up to 500 kilometres away to be attacked. These missiles are built with stealth technology (low observability), measuring around 5 metres in length and equipped with MEPHISTO warheads (Multi-Effect Penetrator, Highly Sophisticated and Target Optimized) weighing about 500 kilograms. Depending on the target, it can detonate like a classic high-explosive fragmentation missile or with a delay.

It is not known what upgrades will be implemented in Taurus Neo at this moment. It is speculated that the new version of the missile may be improved in terms of range, accuracy, and efficiency in avoiding enemy air defence systems. The Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft are expected to become the carriers of the Taurus Neo missiles.

The authorities in Kyiv have been strongly seeking long-range cruise missiles for months. Their calls were answered by, among others, London and Paris, which supplied Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Their range is also estimated at around 500 kilometres.

Berlin, although among Ukraine's largest allies, has a different approach regarding this type of weapon. Most German politicians believe that providing Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles could contribute to further escalation of the ongoing conflict (e.g., after Ukrainian attacks using this weapon on targets located in Russia). Moreover, there were suggestions that the proper use of Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine would require the presence of German soldiers, which is also an unacceptable scenario for Berlin.