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Mon, August 15, 2022 | 18:43
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Taurus seeks to supply long-range missiles on Korea's FA-50
軍, FA-50에 '중거리 타우러스' 장착 가능성 검토
Posted : 2015-10-23 17:35
Updated : 2016-08-09 11:30
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By Jun Ji-hye

Taurus Systems, a German-Swedish joint venture, is seeking to supply its long-range air-to-ground standoff cruise missiles for Korea's indigenous FA-50 light attack fighters, the firm said Friday.

Christoffer Drevstad, president of Taurus Systems Korea, said that the company has nearly completed the development of the Taurus KEPD 350K-2 with a range of 400 kilometers, and it would enhance the combat capability of the FA-50s.

The Taurus KEPD 350K-2 is a shorter and lighter version of Taurus KEPD 350K with a range of 500 kilometers, which is scheduled to be deployed on the ROK Air Force's F-15K fleet.

"The Taurus KEPD 350K-2 is almost the same as the Taurus KEPD 350K. It has the same function, same components and same interface. The only thing we are changing is we are making the missile a little bit shorter," Drevstad told The Korea Times during an interview on the sidelines of the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2015 (Seoul ADEX 2015) at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

"In order to integrate the K2 on the FA-50 aircraft, you have to make the missile shorter. It is a mechanical change."

Drevstad highlighted that the missile can perform deep penetration missions with pinpoint accuracy, making it ideal for taking out hard targets such as underground installations and bridges.

"It penetrates more than double of any aerial weapon systems used today," he said.

He also stressed that the missile has independent navigation systems using different kinds of sensors, which make it very resistant to any form of jamming on GPS.

"GPS can be of course used. But when the GPS is jemmed, we fly anyhow. We don't need GPS," he said.

The company has had positive responses in South Korea to discuss the possible deployment of the K2 on the FA-50s, he said, adding that equipping them with new arms will help increase the potential export of the aircraft for other countries.

The firm displayed the Taurus KEPD 350K during a biennial defense exhibition. The GPS-guided cruise missiles can hit strategic targets such as nuclear and missile bases with great precision.

If launched above the central city of Daejeon, where the headquarters of three military branches are located, they can hit an underground bunker in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.


Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye



軍, FA-50에 '중거리 타우러스' 장착 가능성 검토

정경두 공군총장 등 서울ADEX 타우러스 부스 찾아

군 당국이 FA-50 경공격기의 전투 능력을 높이려고 사거리 400㎞의 중거리 타우러스 공대지 미사일을 장착할 수 있는지를 검토 중인 것으로 알려졌다.

독일의 타우러스 시스템즈사는 한국 공군과 육군에서 운영할 수 있고 '킬 체인'의 핵심 전력이 될 수 있는 중거리 타우러스(TAURUS 350K-2)를 개발 중이라고 군의 한 관계자가 22일 전했다.

이 미사일은 사거리 400㎞, 중량 1천150㎏, 길이 4.4m로 마하 0.6~0.9의 속력으로 비행하도록 개발되고 있다. 우리 군이 도입키로 한 사거리 500㎞ 이상의 타우러스 장거리 공대지 미사일보다 길이가 0.7m 작고 무게도 300㎏이 가볍다.

그러나 비행 속도는 같으며 FA-50 경공격기에 장착할 경우 전투 능력을 크게 높일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. F-15K, KF-16 전투기에도 장착할 수 있으며 이동식 발사대와 함정에서 발사할 수 있는 것으로 알려졌다.

정경두 공군참모총장 등 공군 관계자들은 이날 성남 서울공항에서 열리는 '서울 ADEX' 행사장에 마련된 타우러스 부스를 방문해 전시된 중거리 타우러스 모형을 보며 큰 관심을 표명했다.

군과 한국항공우주산업(KAI) 관계자들은 'FA-50에 중거리 타우러스를 장착한다면 FA-50의 전투 능력을 높여줄 수 있기 때문에 수출에도 도움이 될 것'이라고 말했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailjjh@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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