MBDA,
The first two TAURUS KEPD 350 have been delivered to the Spanish Air Force to equip its EF-18 fighter aircraft. The missiles have been delivered ahead of schedule by TAURUS Systems GmbH, a subsidiary of LFK GmbH, now part of MBDA Deutschland, and Saab Bofors Dynamics of Sweden.
The missiles are undergoing captive flight testing for integration on the EF-18, with the integration activities due for completion in the first quarter of 2008. Spain has ordered a total of 43 missiles.
Germany and Spain have, moreover, declared their intent to integrate Taurus KEPD 350 onto Eurofighter/Typhoon.
“The delivery of the first two missiles to Spain represents an important step on the road to certification for TAURUS KEPD 350 on the EF-18 aircraft. In TAURUS KEPD 350, the Spanish Air Force is receiving the most powerful missile in its category.
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The missile system will in future support the Spanish Air Force to even better fulfil the challenging tasks it has been entrusted with. Being the first export customer, Spain is of enormous strategic importance to us.” explained Helmut Hederer, Managing Director of TAURUS Systems GmbH.
Background Information
With an annual turnover exceeding €3 billion, a forward order book of over €13 billion and over 70 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company. MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes in operational service and has proven its ability as prime contractor to head major multi-national projects. MBDA is jointly owned by BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and FINMECCANICA (25%).
