South Korea and Germany will develop a lightweight version of Taurus rocket for FA-50 fighter

The Taurus Kepd 350K-2 rocket variant will retain the entire functionality of the base option, but the size will be half a meter shorter. It is also assumed that the lightweight option will have a smaller warhead. Weapons from South Korea, together with colleagues from Germany, have signed an agreement on the development of the Taurus Kepd 350K-2 rocket launcher. This is a lightweight version of the base Taurus Kepd 350, which will be installed on the South Korean FA-50 fighter.

About it reports Defense Security Asia. Taurus Systems experts and their partners from the South Korean company LIG NEX1 will take part in the development. "Both companies have committed themselves to the three-year development period to meet the requirements of customers who have existing FA-50 fighters around the world," the publication reads.

It is noted that this option will expand the capabilities of South Korean fighters that are in service with countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Iraq, Poland, Malaysia and, of course, South Korea. Today, South Korea Air Force uses the Taurus Kepd 350K winged rocket, which is equipped with F-15K fighters. However, this type of missile is not intended for the FA-50 fighter because of its size, so the decision was made to create a more compact option.

Militar experts note that the 350K-2 option will retain the entire functionality of the basic version, including the low-height maneuvering option for greater invulnerability, the inertial navigation system and the onboard radar. In this way, the new rocket will be able to impress targets up to 400 km, while the ammunition will be shorter than the base version by half a meter - instead of 5. 1 m it will reach 4. 5 meters in length.

It is expected that in order to facilitate the rocket will carry a reduced warhead, but there is no accurate information on this issue yet - it is known that the version of the KEPD 350 has a tandem fighting part of 481 kg. Earlier, focus wrote in more detail about the tactical and technical characteristics of the Taurus Air-Earth rocket, which is intended for shocks in aerodromes, air defense, bunkers, command points, as well as in places of accumulation of live power and enemy equipment.