Sweden has taken a major step toward developing a long-range precision strike capability after a Gripen C fighter conducted the country’s first live launch of a Taurus KEPD 350 missile. The August 21 test at the Vidsel Test Range verified the aircraft-weapon interface during an actual airborne launch, according to Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration. The Taurus has a reported range of more than 500 kilometres and is designed to strike hardened targets such as command centres, bunkers, airfields, bridges and ports. The missile uses terrain-following flight and a combination of INS, GPS, terrain-reference and image-based navigation systems.
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