Saab JAS 39C Gripen and Taurus KEPD 350

History

The Saab JAS 39C Gripen and Taurus KEPD 350 combination is a Swedish weapons-integration program intended to give the Swedish Air Force a long-range air-launched precision-strike capability. The program combines the operational Gripen C fighter with the German-Swedish Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile.

On 21 August 2026, a Swedish JAS 39 Gripen C launched a Taurus KEPD 350 for the first time during a test at the Vidsel Test Range in Norrbotten. The event was announced by the Swedish Air Force and represented a major physical milestone in the integration program, although it did not mean that the weapon had reached full operational readiness.

The integration forms part of Sweden's broader modernization of the Gripen fleet. The original schedule called for the first Gripen C aircraft to gain Taurus capability in 2028, while later statements from the Swedish Air Force indicated that operational readiness could be achieved earlier.

Development of the integration

The Taurus KEPD 350 was developed by Taurus Systems GmbH, a joint venture involving MBDA Deutschland and Saab Bofors Dynamics. Although Saab Bofors Dynamics participated in the missile program, Sweden did not initially introduce Taurus as an operational weapon for the Gripen fleet.

A Gripen aircraft nevertheless participated in the Taurus development program during the early 2000s. The missile subsequently entered service with other air forces and was integrated with aircraft including the Panavia Tornado, F/A-18 Hornet and F-15K.

In February 2025, Sweden's plan to procure and integrate Taurus KEPD 350 missiles with Gripen fighters became public. Saab was tasked with adapting both Gripen C and Gripen E aircraft for the weapon. The initial phase called for a small number of Gripen C aircraft to be modified for operational Taurus employment.

By December 2025, Saab, the Swedish Ministry of Defence and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration had accelerated the integration effort. Swedish Air Force commander Major General Jonas Wikman stated that the work was progressing substantially faster than originally scheduled and that operational readiness was expected before 2028, without disclosing a more precise date.

First launch from Gripen C

On 21 August 2026, the Swedish Air Force conducted the first launch of a Taurus KEPD 350 from a Swedish JAS 39 Gripen. The test took place at the Vidsel Test Range in Norrbotten and was supported by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. Reporting identified the launch aircraft as a Gripen C. The event was covered by Militarnyi and Army Recognition.

The launch demonstrated progress in aircraft-store compatibility, weapon release and flight-test integration. Additional work is required before operational service, including certification, mission-system development, mission planning, training, logistics and weapon handling.

Design

Gripen C platform

The JAS 39C Gripen is the single-seat member of the Gripen C/D family. Saab data cited in reporting gives the Gripen C a maximum take-off weight of 14,000 kg and eight hardpoints. The aircraft was designed for high availability, dispersed operations and comparatively rapid servicing with limited ground support.

The C-series can operate from road runways approximately 800 m long and 16 m wide. Saab also states a combat turnaround time of about 10 minutes for air-to-air missions. These characteristics form part of Sweden's dispersed-basing concept, although the handling, storage and mission preparation requirements of a heavy long-range weapon such as Taurus introduce additional logistical demands.

Taurus KEPD 350

The Taurus KEPD 350 is an air-launched, subsonic, long-range cruise missile designed for precision attacks against hardened and other high-value targets. It was developed by Taurus Systems GmbH through German-Swedish industrial cooperation between MBDA Deutschland and Saab Bofors Dynamics.

The missile has a launch mass of approximately 1,400 kg and a length of about 5.1 m. Its wingspan is approximately 2.06 m. Published data gives an operational range exceeding 500 km and a maximum speed of about Mach 0.95.

Taurus uses a multi-source navigation architecture combining inertial navigation, satellite navigation, image-based navigation and terrain-reference sensing. This allows the missile to follow a programmed low-altitude route and reduces dependence on continuous satellite navigation.

The missile carries the two-stage MEPHISTO penetrator warhead. Published data gives the warhead mass as approximately 480 kg. The system uses a precursor effect followed by a main penetrator and incorporates programmable layer-counting and void-sensing functions intended for attacks on hardened or deeply buried structures.

Weapons integration

Integrating Taurus with Gripen C requires more than physically carrying and releasing the missile. The aircraft and weapon must support compatible carriage, safe separation, mission-system functions and mission planning. The August 2026 launch publicly demonstrated that Sweden had advanced to live weapon-release testing.

The purpose of the integration is to provide the Swedish Air Force with a stand-off strike capability in which the aircraft can release a precision weapon at long range rather than approaching the immediate vicinity of a heavily defended target.

Program status

As of August 2026, Taurus integration on Gripen C remained in testing and development. The successful 21 August launch was the first known Swedish firing of the weapon from the Gripen platform and did not by itself establish operational readiness.

The previously announced plan called for the first Gripen C aircraft to gain operational Taurus capability in 2028. Swedish Air Force leadership subsequently stated that the program was progressing faster than this original schedule and that readiness was expected before 2028, although no revised date was publicly specified.

Full integration of Taurus with the Gripen E in the Block 4, or MS23, configuration has separately been reported as planned for 2033.

Specifications (JAS 39C Gripen and Taurus KEPD 350)

JAS 39C Gripen

• Configuration: Single-seat multirole fighter aircraft
• Maximum take-off weight: 14,000 kg
• Hardpoints: Eight
• Dispersed runway capability: Approximately 800 m by 16 m road runway
• Combat turnaround: About 10 minutes for air-to-air missions

Taurus KEPD 350

• Type: Air-launched long-range cruise missile
• Launch mass: Approximately 1,400 kg
• Length: Approximately 5.1 m
• Wingspan: Approximately 2.06 m
• Operational range: More than 500 km
• Maximum speed: Approximately Mach 0.95
• Warhead: Two-stage MEPHISTO penetrator
• Warhead mass: Approximately 480 kg
• Guidance and navigation: Inertial navigation, satellite navigation, image-based navigation and terrain-reference navigation
• Control: Four tail control fins

Related equipment

• Gripen E: Later Gripen variant also planned to receive Taurus integration, with full integration in the Block 4, or MS23, configuration reported as scheduled for 2033.
• Taurus Neo: A next-generation development of the Taurus family announced in 2024 and approved for further development and procurement in Germany in 2025.