The German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, have entered into an agreement with TAURUS Systems for the upkeep and enhancement of the TAURUS stand-off missile system.  

This initiative will maintain the system's operational status until at least 2045 with a primary focus is on updating the TAURUS cruise missiles. 

It will also include technological advancements to address the evolving requirements of contemporary weaponry.  

The Bundeswehr is enhancing its stand-off weapons capabilities through these measures, with TAURUS playing a crucial role in the German Air Force and NATO operations.  

With a range exceeding 500km and high precision, the TAURUS KEPD 350 is a modular stand-off weapon designed for precision strikes against hardened, high-value targets. 

This air-to-surface missile allows the German Air Force to neutralise enemy air defence systems from a safe distance, reducing risks to both pilots and platforms. 

Deployed by the German Air Force's Tornado IDS, the Spanish Air Force's EF-18, and the South Korean Air Force's F-15K, the missile is also easily adaptable to other aircraft, including the EF Typhoon, JAS39 Gripen, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-35 Lightning. 

Additionally, concepts for deployment from ground and sea platforms are available. 

Weighing 1,400kg, the missile's dual-stage warhead system, MEPHISTO, is designed to defeat Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT). 

This announcement follows Germany’s cabinet approval of a new military service model (MSM) aimed at overhauling its depleted armed forces in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

The initiative seeks to address the need for increased troop numbers and continues the debate over the potential reintroduction of conscription, which was abolished in 2011.