Vidsel, Norrbotten, Sweden — The Swedish Air Force has conducted the first launch of a Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile from a Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, marking a new stage in Sweden’s integration of the long-range weapon.
The test was conducted on August 21, 2026, at the Vidsel Test Range in Norrbotten, northern Sweden. The Swedish Air Force, known as Flygvapnet, announced the launch the same day, stating that a Taurus KEPD 350 had been launched from a Swedish JAS 39 Gripen for the first time. The service described Taurus as a long-range cruise missile that introduces a new deep-strike capability.
Images and video released with the announcement and credited to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) show a Gripen C releasing the missile. The Taurus used during the test had a yellow marking associated with a live round. A second Taurus was also visible under the aircraft. No further details about the specific test profile, target or results have been released by Swedish authorities.
Taurus KEPD 350 Capabilities
The Taurus KEPD 350 is an air-launched stand-off cruise missile developed by Taurus Systems GmbH, a German-Swedish joint venture involving MBDA Deutschland and Saab.
According to MBDA, the missile has a range of more than 500 kilometres, a mass of about 1,400 kilograms and a length of approximately five metres. It carries a roughly 480-kilogram MEPHISTO warhead designed for precision strikes against hardened and high-value targets.
The missile uses a navigation system combining inertial navigation with GPS, terrain-reference navigation and image-based navigation. MBDA says Taurus is designed for very-low-level terrain-following flight and for operations against hardened and deeply buried targets.
The MEPHISTO warhead uses a dual-stage design intended to provide penetration capability against hardened targets as well as effects against area targets. Its programmable fuze can determine the detonation point within a target structure.
Sweden’s Gripen Integration
Sweden announced in February 2025 that it would acquire and integrate the Taurus KEPD 350 with its Gripen fleet. The initial integration is focused on the Gripen C/D, with the Gripen E planned for a later stage. Public plans have pointed to operational introduction around 2028.
The August 21 launch therefore represents an important flight-test milestone for Sweden’s Taurus integration programme. The test demonstrates that the weapon has progressed from integration work to an actual launch from a Swedish Gripen C.
Sweden is also upgrading part of its Gripen C/D fleet. FMV plans have included upgrades for 60 Gripen C/D aircraft, with the aircraft continuing to operate alongside the newer Gripen E/F fleet. The Taurus capability is associated with the upgraded Gripen C/D configuration.
Vidsel Test Range
The launch was conducted at the Vidsel Test Range in Norrbotten. The facility is operated by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and provides a large restricted area for weapons and military system testing.
The location has previously been used for Taurus development and flight testing. Saab records show that Taurus KEPD 350 test flights were conducted at Vidsel during the missile’s development programme.
The latest launch is part of Sweden’s continuing work to introduce the Taurus KEPD 350 as a long-range stand-off weapon for the Gripen fleet.
The Taurus KEPD 350 is already operated by the armed forces of Germany, Spain and South Korea. Its integration with the Swedish Gripen adds another national operator while expanding the range of air-launched strike capabilities available to the Swedish Air Force.
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