"It's An Option": Merz Admits Supplying Taurus Missiles To Ukraine
6- 2.07.2025, 7:44
- 6,256

Photo: Getty Images
In doing so, Germany will keep Putin in a situation of uncertainty.
Germany is discussing the supply of Taurus missiles for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, but the process of transferring these weapons has not yet been launched.
This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in an interview with Tagesschau.
The German government chief called the system of training to use this type of missile "very complicated" and specified that the military needs six months to do so.
Merz noted that he had discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to train the Ukrainian military to use the Taurus. At the same time, he added that "we have not yet started this process" and that "it remains an option."
The chancellor emphasized that Germany would not publicly discuss what kinds of weapons it was supplying or what it was doing to support Ukraine militarily.
"I want Putin to have some uncertainty about our military action. One thing is certain, and I will repeat it again here on this program: Germany will not be a party to the war," Merz said.
The Taurus missile
TAURUS (Target Adaptive Unitary & Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System) is a long-range air-to-surface cruise missile.
It is developed and produced by Taurus Systems GmbH, a joint venture between Germany's MBDA Deutschland (formerly known as LFK - Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH) and Sweden's Saab Bofors Dynamics AB.
The missile is designed for ultra-precise engagement of complex targets that are highly defended or located underground. It is effective against both point and extended targets.
Depending on the modification, the missiles can be launched from aircraft, sea or land-based carriers. The airborne version allows to engage targets without the aircraft entering the enemy air defense zone.
The standard modification of the Taurus is equipped with a MEPHISTO (Multi-Effect Penetrator, Highly Sophisticated and Target Optimized) type warhead designed to penetrate concrete. It consists of a shaped charge pre-charge and a main explosive charge, which is housed in a heavy-duty casing.
The detonation mechanism can be configured for either airburst or underground detonation. In the case of an airburst, both charges are detonated simultaneously.
The design of the warhead is specially adapted to destroy hard obstacles, including thick concrete and dense layers of soil. This allows the missile to effectively engage protected underground facilities, in particular fortified concrete vaults and bunkers.