[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense video] Taurus Launch Scene of F-15K

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] As the Republic of Korea Air Force has imported about 260 long-range air-to-ground missiles 'Taurus,' it is known that the 'Korean-style Taurus' missile project, a long-range air-to-ground guided missile development project, is in full swing. In addition to equipping the Taurus on the main fighter jet F-15K, it means that the next version of the Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) currently under development will also be equipped with precision guided missiles capable of striking the entire territory of North Korea.

According to the military on the 25th, the military signed a contract to introduce 170 Taurus missiles in 2013 and has been introducing them sequentially. In 2016, it also planned to purchase an additional 90 missiles and has been pushing forward with contract signing. The Taurus, produced by a European defense company, is a missile with a range of over 500 km, capable of precision strikes on key targets.

Also, in 2016, the 98th Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee (hereinafter referred to as DAPPC), chaired by former Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo, reviewed and approved the long-range air-to-ground guided missile project. This project aims to secure a weapon system equivalent to the Taurus class after 2020.

The research and development is led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). A total budget of 810 billion KRW will be invested, including 300 billion KRW for exploration and system development and 500 billion KRW for mass production. It plans to produce about 200 missiles by 2031. The military authorities believe that it is fully possible to develop this using the accumulated technology gained from developing domestic multiple rocket launcher Cheonmu and surface-to-surface missiles.

The long-range air-to-ground guided missile we aim to develop is the German-made Taurus missile. The Taurus is 5.1 meters long (with a wingspan of 2 meters) and has a range of over 500 km. The total weight is 1,400 kg, of which the warhead weighs 480 kg. Flying at an altitude of 40 meters, it can avoid North Korean air defense systems, and stealth technology is applied so that it is not detected by enemy radar. Instead of commercial GPS, it is equipped with encrypted military GPS, allowing it to accurately locate and destroy key facilities even in the presence of electronic jamming.

In particular, it has a system that explodes after penetrating reinforced concrete up to 6 meters thick. It is equipped with a spatial sensing sensor that automatically calculates the point where the warhead should explode. Additionally, it is equipped with triple navigation devices including Image-Based Navigation (IBN), Terrain Reference Navigation (TRN), and Inertial Navigation System (INS), which also play a role in capturing images of enemy territory and transmitting them to friendly bases.

The first batch of about 170 Taurus missiles introduced by our military has been deployed to the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing. The Taurus is scheduled to be mounted on the F-15K fighter jets, the main combat aircraft of our Air Force, within this year, serving as a core weapon of the Kill Chain (preemptive strike system).

An Air Force official said, "Once the Taurus is deployed in actual combat, it will be possible to conduct ultra-precise strikes across the entire North Korean territory without entering North Korean airspace," adding, "The F-15K can take off from bases and destroy North Korean missile bases from the East Sea or south of the Seoul metropolitan area."