Production of Taurus cruise missiles resumes by MBDA
MBDA, a leading defense conglomerate, has announced plans to resume production of the Taurus cruise missile and its closest related system, the Franco-British SCALP/Storm Shadow missile, in 2025 [1][2]. The decision comes after a 15-year pause and aims to replenish stockpiles for France and the UK, the main customers, with production restarting at MBDA’s UK facility in Stevenage.
The SCALP/Storm Shadow missile is a long-range air-launched cruise missile designed to strike hardened, fixed targets such as command bunkers [1][2]. It weighs up to 1,300 kg with a 450 kg warhead and ranges from 250 km (export version) to 560 km (French/UK versions). This missile has recently proven effective in Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
In parallel with the production restart of SCALP/Storm Shadow, MBDA is advancing a next-generation missile program (Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon - FC/ASW) to develop deep precision strike capabilities that will strengthen European strategic autonomy over the next decade [4]. This new program involves significant engineering effort and is intended to build on SCALP/Storm Shadow operational experience to counter advanced threat environments.
Thomas Gottschild, CEO of MBDA Germany, has confirmed that Germany, the original Taurus customer, currently intends to keep Taurus missiles in service until at least 2045 and has not committed to supplying Taurus to Ukraine due to production complexity and availability issues [3]. The German Armed Forces' inventory of Taurus cruise missiles, numbering 600 units, is currently being modernized and comprehensively maintained.
Despite the lack of combat use by any of its acquiring countries, including Germany, Sweden, South Korea, and Spain, the Taurus cruise missile will continue to play a central role in the German Armed Forces' distance weapons capable of striking deep into enemy territory. MBDA is prepared to initiate production of the Taurus missile upon receiving an order from a customer.
Sources:
[1] https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/06/08/france-and-uk-to-resume-production-of-storm-shadow-missiles-in-2025/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-uk-to-resume-production-stormshadow-missiles-2025-2022-06-08/ [3] https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/06/10/germany-to-keep-taurus-missiles-in-service-until-2045-but-wont-supply-ukraine/ [4] https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/06/10/mbda-to-develop-next-generation-long-range-missile-to-strengthen-european-strategic-autonomy/
The SCALP/Storm Shadow missile, a crucial component for France and the UK, has been designed to strike hardened targets and boasts a range of 250 km to 560 km. Currently, the aerospace and defense industry giant, MBDA, is developing a new generation missile program (Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon - FC/ASW) that aims to strengthen European strategic autonomy in finance. Despite Germany's modernization and maintenance of its Taurus missiles, it has not committed to supplying them to Ukraine due to production complexity and availability issues, noting that the Taurus missile will continue to play a central role in Germany's defense strategy.
