The Swedish Air Force plans to equip its JAS Gripen fighter jets with the Taurus long-range cruise missile earlier than previously planned, giving the aircraft a new offensive capability with strategic impact, according to Swedish Air Force Commander Major General Jonas Wickman, as reported by the Swedish newspaper Expressen on Tuesday.
The Taurus missile has a range of over 500 kilometers and is designed to strike hardened ground targets such as bunkers and command centers, meaning the Gripen fighters will be able to target locations deep inside Russian territory. These developments come at a time when NATO countries are accelerating their arms buildup, following the agreement to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Swedish Air Force spokesman Jonas Wickham said the air force will become stronger.
He added: “The close cooperation between all parties involved โ the Air Force, the Swedish Defence Materials Administration, Saab, and the German Air Force โ has made it possible to shorten the timeframe. What we are doing now, which I consider a significant change, is that we are working to shorten the acquisition and development process. We are working more closely together to adopt new capabilities. We can coordinate our work and accomplish it more efficiently, thus reducing the time required.”
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