Ukraine has no launchers for Taurus missiles, so we need fighter jets - Council of Reservists chairman

Ukraine's Western partners have recently failed to make a decision to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. However, the issue here is not only in political discourse but also in technical terms as the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have launchers for such weapons.

This was stated by Ivan Tymochko, a serviceman and chairman of the Council of Reservists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also emphasized that Sweden has expressed its readiness to provide Ukraine with Gripen aircraft.

"Of course, we need everything faster. However, those Taurus missiles need to be launched from something. Unfortunately, these missiles cannot be adapted to the launchers that are available in Ukraine," he admitted.

The military added that Gripen is one of those aircraft that have launchers specially equipped for such missiles. So, according to him, behind the screen of the so-called political game for the public, negotiations and agreements that are taking place are actually purely technical.

"This requires training of aircrews for the aircraft and those who will be working with the missiles. We need to build logistics routes and adapt our airfields. There is a lot of work that goes on behind all these discussions," Tymochko added.

Taurus is a family of German-Swedish long-range air-to-surface cruise missiles. The missile is designed for high-precision strikes and destruction of highly protected and buried targets, including important point and long objects without the carrier aircraft entering the enemy air defense zone.

On February 22, the Bundestag did not support the proposal to expand assistance to Ukraine and provide Taurus missiles. During the consideration of this issue, the German government did not have enough votes as only 182 MPs voted in favor, 480 voted against, and five abstained.

At the same time, on the same day, the Bundestag supported the resolution of the ruling party factions to provide the Ukrainian army with Taurus missiles. Thus, the final decision on these missiles for Ukraine remains with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

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