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
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
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