Posted on 09/27/2017 9:42:01 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
A South Korean F-15K Slam Eagle launched the Taurus KEPD missile on September 12. (Photo: Republic of Korea Air Force)
Amidst nuclear tensions with neighboring North Korea, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) conducted its first live test of the Taurus KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile on September 12. A ROKAF Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle released the missile, which struck a target near the Korean city of Gunsan after traveling 400 km (248 miles).
South Korea signed an order for 177 KEPD 350Ks from Taurus Systems, an MBDA Deutschland-Saab Dynamics joint venture, in November 2013, after the U.S. denied the sale of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) to Seoul.
Following deliveries last October, Seoul was expected to purchase a second batch of 90 Taurus missiles. South Korea also has allocated $690 million to develop its own stand-off missile in 2018.
The Taurus missiles will be part of South Korea’s so-called kill chain pre-emptive strike strategy. With a range of up to 500 km, they are capable of hitting most targets in North Korea from South Korean airspace, providing stand-off strike capability to one of a few capable Asian fighter forces.
The “means of delivering precision effects at safe stand-off ranges are requirements that modern air forces demand for their air platform,” said an MBDA spokesperson. “MBDA has been active in the region and continues to discuss the advantages its standoff weapons can bring to the modern air force of Asia Pacific.”
Taiwan is also developing an indigenous stand-off missile, known as the Wan Chien (Ten Thousand Swords). The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is testing the missile, which was unveiled in January 2014 during completion of the F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter midlife upgrade. It is estimated that the Wan Chien has a range of 200 km (124 miles), nearly the width of the Taiwan Straits at its widest point. Hence, the Republic of China Air Force fighters are able to deploy and engage any hostile surface targets around Taiwan, without exiting the airspace of the island.
In June, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 56 AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) to Taiwan, valued $185.5 million, along with other weapons.
Singapore uses the AGM-154A/C JSOW, which it received between 2008 and 2010 as part of an order for Boeing F-15SG multi-role fighters. However, there has yet to be any official news on the certification of the JSOW on the F-15SG.
Taiwan's Wan Chien missile
Tongil!
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