The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration FMV has completed flight testing of the Taurus Kinetic Energy Penetration Destroyer (KEPD) 350 missile on a Saab/BAE Systems Gripen multirole fighter. It established that the aircraft lost none of its flight characteristics with a pair of the 1,400kg (3,080lb) weapons mounted under the wings. The KEPD was jointly developed by Saab's Bofors division and EADS. The only sales of the Taurus to date amount to 600 missiles to Germany in a €570 million ($690 million) deal announced in July 2002. Saab says that Sweden remains a potential customer and that sales to international customers for the Gripen are also being targeted. The Taurus has a stand-off range of more than 350km (190nm).
Source: Flight International
