Berlin mulls Eurofighters acquisition, modernizing Taurus missiles
Germany is seeking parliamentary approval for 81 defense projects worth over €25 million each.
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A South Korean air force F-15K fighter jet releases a Taurus missile during a drill off the country's western coast, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 (AP)
Germany is seeking parliamentary approval for around 80 defense projects by the end of the year, including the purchase of Eurofighter jets and the modernization of the Taurus cruise missile, according to a government document seen by Reuters.
The document lists 81 defense projects, each with a value exceeding the 25 million euro ($29 million) threshold that requires approval from parliament's budget committee.
Among the items is a purchase of 20 Eurofighter jets from Airbus, a package known as Tranche 5 that was previously announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The list also includes plans to modernize the Taurus cruise missile system and to establish a new production line for its next-generation variant, the Taurus NEO.
German forces currently possess 600 of these missiles, which have a range exceeding 500 kilometers (311 miles) and are designed to be launched from fighter jets like the Tornado, the F-15, or the F/A-18.
Built by the European defense company MBDA, the Taurus missile is designed to destroy high-value targets behind enemy lines, including command bunkers, ammunition and fuel depots, airfields, and bridges.
Other major projects on the list include the acquisition of Patriot and IRIS-T SLM missile systems, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, Boxer armoured personnel carriers, and Israeli-manufactured Heron TP drones. In August, Germany halted its exports of arms to "Israel" in light of the entity expanding its operations in the Strip.