Merz open to Taurus missile deliveries to Ukraine
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
Germany is discussing the potential delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine’s Defense Forces, but the transfer process has not yet commenced.
This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to his interview with Tagesschau.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that training on this type of missile system is highly complex and would require six months to complete. He noted that he had discussed the issue of training Ukrainian troops to use the Taurus system with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but emphasized that the process had not yet been initiated and that the option remained under consideration.
Merz also stressed that Germany would not publicly disclose the specific types of weapons it is supplying or the details of its military support for Ukraine. He added that he wanted to maintain a degree of uncertainty for Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Germany’s military actions. At the same time, he reiterated that Germany would not become a party to the war.
Taurus missile
TAURUS (Target Adaptive Unitary & Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System) is a long-range air-to-surface cruise missile designed for high-precision strikes against complex targets with high levels of protection or underground fortifications.
The missile is developed and produced by Taurus Systems GmbH, a joint venture between Germany’s MBDA Deutschland (formerly LFK – Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH) and Sweden’s Saab Bofors Dynamics AB.
It is capable of engaging both point and extended targets. Depending on its configuration, Taurus can be launched from air, sea, or land platforms. The air-launched version allows strikes without exposing aircraft to enemy air defense systems.
The standard variant of Taurus is equipped with a MEPHISTO warhead (Multi-Effect Penetrator, High Sophisticated and Target Optimised), designed for penetrating reinforced concrete. It features a shaped precursor charge and a main high-explosive charge housed in a robust casing.
The detonation mechanism can be set for either an airburst or an underground explosion. In the case of an airburst, both charges detonate simultaneously.
The warhead is specifically engineered to breach hard targets, including thick concrete and dense soil layers, enabling effective strikes against fortified underground facilities such as bunkers and hardened storage sites.
Taurus deliveries to Ukraine
Last year, before taking office as chancellor, Friedrich Merz had repeatedly expressed his willingness to supply German long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that negotiations on the missile transfer were ongoing, though both sides agreed not to disclose the outcome publicly.
In June, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated during a visit to Kyiv that Berlin was not currently considering transferring Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced dissatisfaction with the potential delivery of these missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also expressed support for resuming dialogue with Merz.
