Germany MBDA
Taurus KEPD 350
A German-Swedish air-launched cruise missile developed by Taurus Systems (a joint venture including MBDA Deutschland) featuring a tandem-warhead bunker-penetrator for hardened targets. It arms the Luftwaffe's Tornado/Eurofighter and the Spanish and South Korean air forces, and has been the subject of prolonged debate over transfer to Ukraine.
In service since 2005 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
500
km range
0.8
Mach
481
kg warhead
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
German export-licensed
BAFA licensing with strict end-use review; approvals can be politically constrained.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 2005. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 0.8 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 500 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 481 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Tandem-charge penetrator (MEPHISTO) |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | GPS/INS, Terrain-reference navigation, Image-based terminal guidance |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 5.1 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,400 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 3 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public MBDA and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Storm Shadow Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the MBDA Taurus KEPD 350? +
The MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 has a maximum range of 500 km.
How much does the MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 weigh? +
The MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 has a combat weight of 1,400 kg.
What is the MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 used for? +
The MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the MBDA Taurus KEPD 350? +
The MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 is operated by 3 countries.
How much does the MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 cost? +
MBDA Taurus KEPD 350: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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