The Swedish Air Force has completed the integration of the German-Swedish Taurus (KEPD 350) cruise missile onto JAS 39 Gripen fighters and, in late August 2026, conducted its first combat launch from a Gripen C aircraft. According to RBC-Ukraine, for testing and subsequent armament, the Swedish side received a batch of Taurus missiles from the reserves of the German Armed Forces; the exact number of transferred munitions remains classified. This event marked a notable step in the modernization of Swedish aviation and simultaneously raised questions about why this weaponry, which Kyiv requested for strikes on Russian territory, was never supplied directly to Ukraine.
First Launch from Gripen C
The Swedish military released a 14-second video capturing the launch of a Taurus missile from a Gripen C fighter. According to reports, the test took place at the Vidsel test range in Norrbotten province. Markings on the launched missile indicated the presence of a warhead, which, according to experts, served as an additional argument that a real combat munition, rather than a training mockup, was used during the tests. For the Gripen platform, which had not previously been certified for this weapon, the launch confirmed the operability of the entire "aircraft — missile — control system" chain.
Where the Missiles Came From: Germany and Other Operators
The original Taurus series is no longer in production, leading observers to suggest that Sweden received the munitions from another state's reserves. In addition to Germany, Spain and South Korea operate Taurus missiles. According to open sources, between 2005 and 2010, the German Armed Forces purchased around 600 Taurus missiles to equip their Tornado aircraft; since then, several test launches have been conducted with the system, and the missile is expected to remain in service with the German Air Force until the mid-2040s. Importantly, the missiles alone are not enough for full deployment: a mission planning system is required to upload geospatial data into the munition before launch. It remains unclear whether Sweden received only the volume necessary for integration work or a batch sufficient for combat use.
Record Integration Timeline
The joint venture Taurus Systems GmbH (TSG), formed by MBDA Deutschland and Saab, announced the integration of Taurus on the Gripen as achieving an important milestone "in record time." According to Defense Express analysts, initial plans reported in 2025 estimated that work on the JAS 39C/D would not be completed before 2028, meaning integration was accomplished more than a year ahead of schedule. The acceleration of work was mentioned as early as December 2025 by the Commander of the Swedish Air Force, and in the second half of August 2026, the Swedish military officially confirmed the first Taurus launch from a Gripen. Thus, a European platform has acquired a new long-range strike capability, expanding the circle of nations capable of deploying this missile.
Context: Taurus and the Issue of Transfer to Ukraine
The integration of Taurus onto Swedish fighters takes on additional significance given that Ukraine is reportedly set to receive used Swedish Gripens as early as 2027. This means Kyiv could eventually acquire a platform compatible with this weaponry. The issue of transferring Taurus to Ukraine remained controversial in Germany: in March 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to RBC-Ukraine reports, stated that he no longer saw the point in transferring Taurus missiles to Ukraine, considering Ukrainian weapons more effective. At the same time, while in opposition, Merz repeatedly expressed the intention to transfer these missiles for strikes on Russian territory, and in July 2025, after coming to power, he did not rule out such a transfer. In late 2025, the German parliament urged him to supply long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, recalling his previous public stances.
