Germany will replenish Taurus stocks in two years if it gives them to Ukraine - media
Kyiv • UNN
If Germany gives Ukraine long-range Taurus missiles, it will take about two years to replenish Germany's stockpile.
If Germany does provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, the production of new Taurus will take about two years. This was reported by UNN with reference to Financial Times.
Details
According to the newspaper, the production lines are idle, the last time they worked was in 2019 at the request of the South Korean government. The factories in the Bavarian city of Schrobenhausen only modernize the missiles they have sold. Analysts estimate that each missile costs about 1.5 million euros, depending on the size of the order.
Taurus Systems Managing Director Joachim Knopf said in January that Taurus production could be resumed "as soon as possible" if there is an order. However, analysts estimate that the production of new Taurus missiles will take about two years.
According to the publication, it is impossible to immediately increase or resume production of cruise missiles. The production chain will have to increase output or resume production of parts, but all of this takes time."
Any missiles sent to Ukraine are likely to be taken from the Bundeswehr's stockpile of about 600 Taurus missiles. However, according to the estimates of Fabian Hoffman, a researcher at the University of Oslo, only half of them are in working order.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz refuses to give Ukraine Taurus, saying that his country's troops will have to be sent to Ukraine to service the missiles. This would lead to an escalation of the conflict. Berlin also fears an escalation if Kyiv strikes targets in Russia or the Crimean bridge.
