The successful test of the long-range missile “Korean Taurus” confirms its safe separation and brings the KF-21 closer to deep-strike capability.
On June 25, 2025, South Korea conducted a safe separation test of a locally developed long-range air-to-ground missile, nicknamed Korean Taurus. The launch from an FA-50 confirms the mechanical reliability, aerodynamic stability, and compatibility with the future KF-21 fighter. This missile, equipped with high-precision guidance and a range of over 500 km, is intended to equip the KF-21 Boramae before 2030, strengthening South Korea’s military autonomy and the program’s export capabilities.
Separation test: confirmation of reliable deployment
On June 25, 2025, South Korea’s DAPA announced the successful flight separation test of a long-range air-to-ground missile launched from a FA-50 light aircraft. The test was designed to verify that the missile can be safely released without damaging the aircraft’s structure or compromising its onboard equipment. This step is essential to certify the compatibility between the missile and its future launch platforms, notably the KF-21 Boramae.
Between April and June, 31 test flights were conducted. Each mission included precise assessments of mechanical resistance, vibration effects (flutter), and aerodynamic stresses generated during the release phase. Engineers measured the dynamic responses of the FA-50 airframe in real time as the missile separated.
The tests demonstrated that the missile’s trajectory remains stable and predictable, with no dangerous forces acting on the aircraft. Critical equipment, such as mission sensors and radar antennas, showed no malfunctions during or after separation.
This validation marks a decisive step forward, paving the way for autonomous navigation, terminal guidance and dynamic targeting tests, which are prerequisites for full integration on the KF-21 by 2027.
Comparative performance: targeting the Taurus KEPD 350
The South Korean missile under development, nicknamed “Korean Taurus”, is designed to achieve a level of performance equivalent to or even superior to that of the German-made Taurus KEPD 350, currently in service on the Republic of Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft. This comparison is not insignificant: the Taurus is renowned for its ability to strike protected targets at long range with great accuracy, making it a benchmark in the air-to-ground cruise missile category.
The South Korean missile is targeting a minimum operational range of 500 kilometers, which is the same as the KEPD 350. It features inertial guidance combined with GPS, supplemented by a terrain recognition (TRN) system and optional electro-optical terminal guidance to optimize accuracy during the impact phase. It is also designed with a reduced radar signature, thanks to a stealth design developed to circumvent modern ground-to-air defenses.
Preliminary tests on platforms such as the F-4E Phantom II and FA-50 have validated the aerodynamic configurations and initial flight sequences. This missile is intended for full domestic production, without critical external technological dependencies, which is a major strategic objective for Seoul: to reduce the vulnerability of its arsenal in the event of export restrictions or supply disruptions.
Timeline and integration into the KF-21
The South Korean long-range missile is an integral part of the second phase of the national long-range strike program launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Defense. This phase provides for a gradual ramp-up of capacity, from initial testing to full integration on the KF-21 fighter before the end of the decade. The operational milestones have been clearly established:
- Separation tests on FA-50 (April–June 2025), validating mechanical compatibility;
- Additional tests to evaluate flight stability, onboard equipment safety, and boundary conditions;
- Start of integration on KF-21 prototypes in 2027, with bench tests, captive flights, and then live firing;
- Full validation before 2030, including tests of guidance, terminal accuracy, autonomous navigation, and stability in electronic warfare and adverse weather scenarios.
The program is based on a fleet of six KF-21 prototypes, which have been in flight testing since 2022. Each of these aircraft will be used to test different aspects of the weapon system: payload, sensor fusion, software interfacing, and compatibility with onboard combat systems.
The ultimate goal is to achieve a missile that is fully integrated into the KF-21 Block II mission management system and capable of conducting long-range strikes while maintaining the aircraft’s radar signature. This rigorous planning aims to ensure that the missile enters operational service with the South Korean Air Force by 2030, without relying on sensitive foreign technologies.
Strategic implications for national defense
The development of a South Korean-made long-range air-to-ground missile is a major strategic asset for the country’s defense. First, it provides enhanced deterrence capabilities, enabling rapid targeting of command centers, missile launch sites, and logistical infrastructure in the early hours of a conflict. This ability to strike deep into enemy territory without having to penetrate too far into enemy airspace reduces the risk to pilots and increases the effectiveness of the first waves of attack.
The autonomous nature of the program is also crucial. By producing a missile of this type on its own soil, South Korea reduces its dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly in an unstable geopolitical context where exports can be suspended or subject to restrictive political conditions. This ensures continuity of supply even in times of diplomatic tension and protects critical logistics chains.
In budgetary terms, domestic manufacturing reduces acquisition costs in the medium term by bypassing import margins and maintaining investment in the local economy. The program also generates a technological spillover effect, promoting the transfer of know-how to other fields such as avionics, mission software, and propulsion systems.
Finally, this long-range strike capability is part of an evolving military doctrine that is more focused on preventive power projection. In a regional environment where tensions with North Korea remain high and the military balance in Northeast Asia is shifting, this missile strengthens Seoul’s strategic credibility while consolidating its operational room for maneuver.
Export prospects: an attractive fighter-missile package
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is promoting a key commercial focus: the joint export of the KF-21 Boramae and its future long-range air-to-ground missile. This approach is based on a unified offering capable of providing third countries with a complete strike system without relying on Western subcontracting chains. The Korean missile, designed to integrate natively with the KF-21, thus enhances the fighter’s appeal in tenders where weapon compatibility plays a key role.
This strategy is aimed in particular at markets with rapid modernization needs for their fighter fleets, but with budgets lower than those required to purchase American or European fighters. The estimated cost of the KF-21 is around €65 million per unit, which is approximately 30 to 40% less than an F-35A. The long-range missile is expected to cost less than €2 million per unit, according to current projections by the South Korean industry.
Identified customers include Indonesia (a partner in the program), the United Arab Emirates, Poland, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. Indonesia’s participation has been renegotiated to 600 billion won ($438 million), demonstrating a willingness to offer contractual flexibility in order to maintain partnerships.
This combination of missile and aircraft manufacturing allows Seoul to position itself as a credible alternative supplier to Western models, while promoting technological autonomy that is attractive to countries seeking to diversify their military suppliers without compromising on performance.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.