* Will Germany supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine?

According to the Financial Times, on April 14, German Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz publicly expressed his desire to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. This statement was made one day after Russia's missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

Designed for precision strikes on fortified and strategic targets, the Taurus cruise missile has a range of more than 500km. Photo: Army Recognition

Merz also alluded to the transfer of long-range cruise missiles such as the French Storm Shadow/SCALP EG and the US ATACMS, stressing that Western military support would help Ukraine regain the initiative on the battlefield.

The Taurus KEPD 350, a joint product of Germany's MBDA Deutschland and Sweden's Saab Dynamics, is an air-launched cruise missile with a range of more than 500km. Equipped with a GPS-independent guidance system, an infrared seeker and a precision-piercing warhead, the missile is designed to destroy hardened targets such as bunkers, bridges and runways. The missile can be integrated into a variety of aircraft platforms, including the Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18 Hornet and F-15K. The missile's stealth design and terrain-hugging flight capabilities make it difficult for enemy air defense systems to detect. The missile is powered by a Williams F121-WR-100 turbofan engine and can be launched from altitudes of 30-16,000m.

The Taurus carries a 481kg MEPHISTO warhead, which allows it to detonate at optimal times. The missile's guidance system ensures high-precision targeting even in GPS-free environments. These features make the Taurus a powerful system.

* Belgium to produce F-35 fighter jets in Italy

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has formally proposed that future F-35 fighter jets ordered by Belgium be assembled in Cameria, Italy, instead of Lockheed Martin's main plant in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Francken stressed that this initiative could create jobs within Europe and help align Belgian defense investments with broader European industrial and strategic goals, ensuring that Belgium remains a reliable NATO ally.

Although specific production rates are not publicly disclosed, Cameri FACO has demonstrated its capabilities by delivering the first F-35A assembled in Italy in 2015 and the first F-35B in 2018. Photo: Lockheed Martin

The proposal is prompted by a recent US decision to allow European buyers to request assembly in Cameri. However, it is unclear whether F-35s assembled in Italy would be considered European under EU rules, a requirement to qualify for spending under EU-backed lending mechanisms.

As of early 2025, Belgium has received eight F-35As built at Lockheed Martin’s main production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. They are currently being transferred to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA, for pilot and technician training. They are expected to be delivered to Belgium this fall to participate in NATO operations, including air patrols on the alliance’s eastern flank.

Concerns about dependence on the United States have been widespread across Europe. Germany and Portugal, in particular, have expressed hesitation about F-35 orders due to concerns about over-reliance on American operating systems and software. Francken confirmed on March 10 that Belgium’s F-35A can operate independently even without full US support.

QUYNH OANH (synthesis)

* Today's World Military column on the People's Army Electronic Newspaper sends readers the latest information on world military security and defense activities in the past 24 hours.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/quan-su-the-gioi-hom-nay-15-4-duc-se-cung-cap-ten-lua-hanh-trinh-taurus-cho-ukraine-249393.html