Bundestag member explains why Scholz refuses to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine

This was reported by DW.

The Bundestag deputy sees a number of negative consequences for the Bundeswehr if a decision is made to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine.

According to him, Germany has a limited number of missiles of this type.

In addition, there is currently no way to increase their production to replenish the army's own stocks. 

"Therefore, given our allied commitments to NATO and the measures we must take to strengthen our own security, it would be wiser not to provide these missiles," Arlt said.

Taurus missiles for Ukraine: what is known

In May, it was reported that Ukraine had asked Germany for long-range missiles.

At the end of June, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany did not intend to provide Ukraine with these missiles.

In early August, it was reported that the Bundestag had reached a consensus on the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

On January 2, 2024, the chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, the Free Democratic Party's Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, again called for the missiles to be provided to Ukraine.

On January 17, Christoph Heusgen, a former adviser to former Chancellor Merkel, said that Germany could decide to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles no later than in a month at the Munich Security Conference.

Read also Germany appears unlikely to restrict Taurus range if transferred to Ukraine

Reference: The Taurus KEPD 350/150 is a subsonic, long-range, air-to-surface tactical cruise missile for precision strikes and engagement of highly protected and buried targets without the missile carrier entering the enemy air defense zone. The basic KEPD-350 model has a tandem concrete-piercing warhead weighing 481 kg and an explosive weight of about 50 kg. The weight of the vehicle is 1360 kg, while the empty weight is 1080 kg. The maximum flight range is at least 500 km.