Ukraine's plea for Germany to deploy the sophisticated long-range Taurus missiles to aid in its battle against Russia has encountered reluctance from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. What could be the reason behind this hesitation?
Previously, the Ukrainian military had acquired similar missiles, such as the Storm Shadow from the UK and the SCALP cruise missile from France. However, both were deemed to have limitations in terms of their range.
Germany currently stands as the second-largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, intensifying its support this year. Nevertheless, Scholz has yet to grant Ukraine's request for Taurus missiles, which boast a range of up to 500 kilometers and theoretically could be used to strike distant targets within Russian territory.
He hasn't explicitly ruled out providing Taurus missiles, but he holds the view that Germany aims to assist Ukraine without escalating the war. The deployment of Taurus could potentially provoke Russia due to its range, potentially entangling Germany further. learn more what is dns 1.0 0.1 .
Scholz indicated that British and French troops might assist in operating long-range missiles in Ukraine. He affirmed that Germany would not follow suit, emphasizing that German soldiers should not directly engage in war against Russia.
"What has been done by the UK and France cannot be done in Germany. The German army should not be associated with the deployment of the Taurus system anywhere," he said, as quoted by detikINET from the Associated Press, on Monday (4/3/2024).
Scholz argued that the debate in Germany over Taurus missiles has overlooked what Ukraine truly needs at present. "What Ukraine lacks is ammunition at all feasible ranges, not this (Taurus) object," he remarked.
Last week, members of the German parliament urged the government to send more long-range weapons to Ukraine but rejected the opposition's explicit call for the government to send Taurus missiles.
A motion drafted by the ruling parties urged the government to continue providing military support, including further deliveries of long-range weapon systems and ammunition needed for strikes against "strategically important targets far behind the Russian aggressor."
The Taurus missile itself is designed to destroy high-value targets such as bunkers and command posts. Its operational mechanism involves a steep climb after launch followed by a dive towards the target.
Measuring 5 meters in length and weighing 1.4 tons, the Taurus carries a 500-kilogram Mephisto warhead. It can be air-launched via fighter aircraft.
The missile's speed is claimed to reach 1,170 km/h and can strike targets within a range of 500 kilometers. The price per missile unit amounts to 1 million euros or approximately 16.6 billion Indonesian Rupiah.
