The South Korean fighter aircraft F/A-50 is set to be equipped with a compact version of the Taurus cruise missile. Currently, the South Korean Air Force possesses the KEPD 350 Taurus cruise missiles, exclusively intended for its F-15K fighter-bombers.
In December 2022, the South Korean Defense Agency (DAPA) allocated significant funding for the development of an air-to-ground cruise missile as part of the KALCM (Korean Air Launched Cruise Missile) program, entrusted to LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace. This missile is intended for the future KF-21 Boramae combat aircraft, with serial production expected to begin this year. It will be the primary strategic component of South Korea’s deterrence system, especially under the KMPR (Korea Massive Punishment & Retaliation) framework for potential massive retaliation in case of conflict.
However, Taurus Systems GmbH, a joint subsidiary of MBDA Deutschland and Saab Dynamics AB, has signed an agreement with LIG Nex1 to develop a more compact version of the KEPD 350 Taurus missile, known as the KEPD 350K2. This initiative primarily aims to promote the export of the F/A-50 “Golden Eagle” aircraft produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The development of this new version of the Taurus missile is progressing rapidly. Christopher Drevstad, President of Taurus Systems Korea Co., recently announced that the preliminary development phase of the KEPD 350K2 is almost complete. The KEPD 350K-2 is expected to have similar performance to its predecessor, but it will be smaller, with a mass of approximately 900 kg (compared to 1400 kg for the Taurus). It will also be shorter by about sixty centimeters. This variant, adapted for the F/A-50, will maintain a range of 500 km and nearly identical capabilities thanks to the use of independent navigation systems resistant to GPS jamming.