TAURUS Systems, a joint venture between MBDA and SAAB, has secured a contract with the German government to produce the next-generation TAURUS NEO stand-off missile, strengthening the country’s deep strike capabilities.
The agreement involves Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support and sets up a serial production line for the capability-enhanced missile.
The TAURUS NEO, with a range exceeding 500 kilometers (310 miles), allows the German Air Force to neutralize enemy air defense systems from a safe distance, reducing risk to pilots and aircraft.
MBDA emphasized that the system will provide a critical contribution to both national and NATO defense, offering precision and state-of-the-art technology in a modular stand-off weapon.
TAURUS NEO
The TAURUS NEO is a next-generation, long-range stand-off missile designed for precision strikes against high-value and well-defended targets. Its modular design allows launch from multiple platforms, including aircraft, ground systems, and potentially naval assets, enabling flexible deployment across operational theaters.
Advanced navigation, target recognition, and countermeasure resistance ensure high accuracy and survivability, even against sophisticated air defense networks.
Work on developing the new technologies began under a TAURUS maintenance and modernization contract awarded in December 2024, accelerating the availability of the first systems.
The latest contract not only expands production capacity but also supports the development of advanced capabilities, ensuring the modular missile system meets evolving operational requirements.
MBDA has doubled missile production across the group since 2023 and plans to invest 2.4 billion euros ($2.8 billion) between 2025 and 2029 to sustain the production ramp-up.
