A concept rendering of the Taurus missile on a KAI FA-50.
SEONGNAM, South Korea—LIG Nex1 and Taurus Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding at Seoul ADEX 2023 that will see the pair jointly develop a scaled-down version of the KEPD-350 Taurus missile tailored for the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50.
Known as the Medium-Range Air-Launched Cruise Missile (MALCM) and designated KEPD 350K-2, the program is a privately led project between the two companies. KEPD 350K-2 will weigh around 2,000 lb., with range of 250 mi.
This is the second joint research project between LIG Nex1 and Taurus, following their work on a ground-launched version of the KEPD-350K in 2015.
The South Korean Agency for Defense Development is now leading its own domestic Korean Air-Launched Cruise Missile (KALCM) program—with LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aero as subcontractors—but that program is not due for completion until 2028.
Taurus Systems Korea President Christoffer Drevstad told Aviation Week Network that development of the Taurus KEPD 350K-2 should take fewer than three years, making it easy for KAI to include the munition as part of the FA-50 light fighter’s armament portfolio in export sales—in addition to the rapid fielding desired by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
The development of KEPD 350K-2 will run independently of the KALCM.
An unnamed industry source tells Aerospace DAILY that the companies may replace the navigation, guidance equipment, warheads and turbofan engines in the Taurus KEPD 350K-2 with South Korean-made components to avoid strict German and U.S. government export controls.
The ROKAF currently operates the AGM-142 Popeye, AGM-84K SLAM-ER and KEPD-350 Taurus air-to-surface missiles from its F-4Es and F-15Ks. Both the AGM-142 and AGM-84K are due for replacement.
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