Ukraine's hopes for the Taurus cruise missile have so far been dashed. But now Germany is sending thousands of kamikaze drones with similar characteristics.
November 18, 2024 10:54November 18, 2024 10:55
Julian Alexander Fisher/t-online
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The Taurus cruise missile has so far been a red flag for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Green coalition partners have different views on it, but the government has not yet approved the delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine.
However, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the delivery of 4,000 so-called attack drones in July. Now the news is out: the agreed-upon model, the HX-2 Karma, has features similar to those of the Taurus and is apparently already known in the industry as the “Mini-Taurus”, Bild reports.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.Image: trapezoid
“Mini Taurus” should fly to the target independently
When the announcement was made in July, it was initially unclear which type of drone Germany wanted to supply to Ukraine. According to reports, these were developed by German artificial intelligence company Helsing. Like the Taurus cruise missiles, they have software that can withstand Russian GPS jamming and other electronic warfare measures.
A military insider reported to Bild that the drones independently observed the area and identified its location based on thousands of landmarks. In this way, it helps “operators maintain course even in adverse weather conditions or in bombed areas.” Once the drone pilot zeroes in on the target, the drone flies to the target independently. This also applies if the radio connection with the soldier has been lost.
Ukrainian drones (file photo): The new drones apparently have greater range.Image: trapezoid
In addition, the drone should fly towards the target from the direction of the sun to ensure the enemy’s reaction time is as short as possible. Another plus: It is said to have a range four times greater than previous Ukrainian kamikaze drones and is packed with enough explosives to destroy Russian tanks.
The Bundeswehr is considering deploying
Drones can also attack other targets. With it, “Ukraine's armed forces can take action against high-value Russian military targets, such as Russian command posts or logistics facilities,” Defense Minister Pistorius said. The drone is said to be much cheaper than similar models in the United States or Russia, which sell for up to 100,000 euros.
The “Mini Taurus” has already been tested in Ukraine and has apparently been further developed under real conditions. Deliveries will begin in December, with hundreds of copies delivered each month.
Taurus cruise missile (file photo): To date, Germany has not delivered such a weapon to Ukraine.Image: trapezoid
He reported that Pistorius had inspected the drones during a visit to his counterpart Rustem Umjerow in May. Further discussions are ongoing about the possibility of using drones by the Bundeswehr – which already uses Taurus cruise missiles.
German Taurus deliveries still in doubt
Despite Ukraine's repeated requests from its Western partners to provide and allow the use of long-range weapons on Russian territory, these efforts remained unsuccessful for a long time. However, US President Joe Biden has now allowed the use of these weapons to defend the conquered territory of Kursk, Russia.
Taurus cruise missile: The federal government has repeatedly ruled out supplying this weapon to Ukraine.Image: Screenshot: YouTube
This spring, t-online research showed that cruise missile control is so complex that Germany had to provide a specific system to handle the large amounts of complex data. However, Germany apparently only had a small number, so delivery would create a security hole in the defence. This is said to be a key reason for the boycott by German Finance Minister Scholz. Read more about it here. However, due to its streamlined functionality, the weapon can also be used without the system.
With U.S. permission, other allies could follow suit and provide long-range weapons. Green Party candidate for prime minister Robert Habeck announced on ARD on Sunday evening that he would appoint Taurus as chancellor. The Liberal Democrats and the Alliance have also been calling for this for a long time. The Liberals hope to hold a vote on the issue in the Bundestag. However, the Greens have said they will not agree to delivery without the consent of their coalition partner the Social Democrats.
In any case, however, it is not the Bundestag that decides on such deliveries, but the Federal Government's Security Council. It is headed by Chancellor Scholz. It’s doubtful Scholz will change his mind on this issue.
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