The article (which as always is a solid piece of work!) left out one important factor. Without American support these weapons are irrelevant.
High precision weapons like Taurus needs massive amounts or signals intelligence and reconnaissance satellite data. This is something the EU relies on America on.
Without American support in the form of satellite data, the Taurus won’t do a whole lot. And Trump is unlikely to provide it, since it may prolong the war.
There was a recent article that Hegseth ordered Cyber Command to cease all offensive actions against Russia, so maybe US will not provide that data anymore.
Perhaps the fact that cocaine addled penis pianist Z was thrown out of White House after he acted like a donkey and an idiot, will help the US to make the right choices.
Taking out, or even damaging the Kerch bridge is irrelevant at this point. A year ago it would have been an important blow. Today? Not so much. Transport links including railways have been developed between the Donbas and Russia, leaving the bridge less important.
As for the psychological effects? Well, the Russians have proven quite adept at ignoring those kind of blows, knowing that they ultimately are meaningless in a war of attrition.
Excellent piece of work. As ever, it's down to numbers. 100 Taurus missiles means 10-15 successful hits. Big deal. No aircraft to fire them is a big deal, as is SS on the ground in Ukraine overseeing the process.
The first glance I had at the photo, I thought "That gentleman on the right is different from the others". How true! But how many generals or heads of state today have such a noble aspect? And what a contrast to Zelensky's dress code!
The story is that when Napoleon led his generals to Friedrich's tomb he commanded, "Hats off, gentlemen!" and then reflected, "If he were still alive, we'd have had a far harder time of it getting here".
The Taurus appears to be a very capable weapon with multiple mitigation systems against defences, however, two things come to mind and deserve consideration.
1. That it has been used in an active war situation which changes a lot of things as compared to tests and demonstrations, where no counter measures wete used.
2. By now the Russians are fully aware of how the missile functions and all of it's counter warfare mitigation mechanisms, and given the time period that has elapsed between the first threats to supply Taurus missiles, and now, the Russians have had plenty of time to work on a counter measure, which the Taurus cannot mitigate against, and which the Russians have proven so far in this conflict, that they are highly capable of doing.
Thanks so much for another excellent report. It is fascinating to learn about this missile. Germans are arrogant as usual, hopefully they will be punished. Also the rest of these enemies who want to destroy Russia.
This part is incorrect and perhaps was mistranslated?
“The missile's TIHH is equipped with an indium antimonite matrix (a binary inorganic chemical compound of indium and antimony), which provides automatic target recognition.”
The semiconductor simply provides the IR detection. Target recognition is provided by software.
Freaks me out how the same names endure so long (warheads by Bofors and Rheinmetall), feels like a clue to the really big games usually kept out of sight, to keep the populace compliant (that is, paying for the reckless foolishness of the wealthy bastards, in complete ignorance).
Also – I keep hearing reports that the front is so desperate for infantry, that they are not only sending needed civilian emergency personel (already a sign of panic) but also most of their specialized avionics technicians. I spent a couple of decades as a technician myself and I know – the difference between a team that really knows how to work together and share wisdom and experience, and a bunch of idiots off the street with an instruction manual, is a TOTAL difference. As you say, despite the worrisome characteristics of the missile on paper, actually using the damn thing won’t be easy – especially if no one who knows the systems deeply, can be tasked to it. Now if only some German marketing wizard would wake up and realize the potential downside of a mediocre demonstration, thanks to such severe technical and staging (range) limitations! (could Ad-men save us from disaster? – silly, but maybe)
Even as an atheist, I pray every single day that this thing ENDS – and spares every life now at risk (which includes every human being on earth, as long as nuclear sabre-rattling of any kind continues).
Thank you sincerely for what you do! Can’t exactly say that it makes us feel better (subject, not your fault) – but I’d rather understand the asteroid hurtling toward us, than look away, or bury my head!
2. Taurus missiles are baked in the cake now. This is the result of Russian dithering and indecision.
3. *IF* (note the emphasis) Trump were serious about de-escalation, he need only tell the Germans that, if they deliver Taurus and Russia responds, they are on their own. The United States (and by extension, NATO) will not rescue them if Russia retaliates.
Theatre upon theatre upon theatre. In our world of propaganda and paid-for-humans, I need to see actions not words... and then consider that the actions hide a new plan.
The article (which as always is a solid piece of work!) left out one important factor. Without American support these weapons are irrelevant.
High precision weapons like Taurus needs massive amounts or signals intelligence and reconnaissance satellite data. This is something the EU relies on America on.
Without American support in the form of satellite data, the Taurus won’t do a whole lot. And Trump is unlikely to provide it, since it may prolong the war.
There was a recent article that Hegseth ordered Cyber Command to cease all offensive actions against Russia, so maybe US will not provide that data anymore.
Perhaps the fact that cocaine addled penis pianist Z was thrown out of White House after he acted like a donkey and an idiot, will help the US to make the right choices.
The puppet met the bigger puppets, and they delivered a production to the Public.
Let's see whether the US actually does it.
Taking out, or even damaging the Kerch bridge is irrelevant at this point. A year ago it would have been an important blow. Today? Not so much. Transport links including railways have been developed between the Donbas and Russia, leaving the bridge less important.
As for the psychological effects? Well, the Russians have proven quite adept at ignoring those kind of blows, knowing that they ultimately are meaningless in a war of attrition.
Thanks Mike - very informative, well written article.
Excellent piece of work. As ever, it's down to numbers. 100 Taurus missiles means 10-15 successful hits. Big deal. No aircraft to fire them is a big deal, as is SS on the ground in Ukraine overseeing the process.
The first glance I had at the photo, I thought "That gentleman on the right is different from the others". How true! But how many generals or heads of state today have such a noble aspect? And what a contrast to Zelensky's dress code!
The story is that when Napoleon led his generals to Friedrich's tomb he commanded, "Hats off, gentlemen!" and then reflected, "If he were still alive, we'd have had a far harder time of it getting here".
The Taurus appears to be a very capable weapon with multiple mitigation systems against defences, however, two things come to mind and deserve consideration.
1. That it has been used in an active war situation which changes a lot of things as compared to tests and demonstrations, where no counter measures wete used.
2. By now the Russians are fully aware of how the missile functions and all of it's counter warfare mitigation mechanisms, and given the time period that has elapsed between the first threats to supply Taurus missiles, and now, the Russians have had plenty of time to work on a counter measure, which the Taurus cannot mitigate against, and which the Russians have proven so far in this conflict, that they are highly capable of doing.
Thanks so much for another excellent report. It is fascinating to learn about this missile. Germans are arrogant as usual, hopefully they will be punished. Also the rest of these enemies who want to destroy Russia.
Excellent technical article, thank you.
This part is incorrect and perhaps was mistranslated?
“The missile's TIHH is equipped with an indium antimonite matrix (a binary inorganic chemical compound of indium and antimony), which provides automatic target recognition.”
The semiconductor simply provides the IR detection. Target recognition is provided by software.
Thanks for all the relevant detail, Mike.
I liked the picture at the end, too.
;-)
Superb and informative – thank you Mike!
Freaks me out how the same names endure so long (warheads by Bofors and Rheinmetall), feels like a clue to the really big games usually kept out of sight, to keep the populace compliant (that is, paying for the reckless foolishness of the wealthy bastards, in complete ignorance).
Also – I keep hearing reports that the front is so desperate for infantry, that they are not only sending needed civilian emergency personel (already a sign of panic) but also most of their specialized avionics technicians. I spent a couple of decades as a technician myself and I know – the difference between a team that really knows how to work together and share wisdom and experience, and a bunch of idiots off the street with an instruction manual, is a TOTAL difference. As you say, despite the worrisome characteristics of the missile on paper, actually using the damn thing won’t be easy – especially if no one who knows the systems deeply, can be tasked to it. Now if only some German marketing wizard would wake up and realize the potential downside of a mediocre demonstration, thanks to such severe technical and staging (range) limitations! (could Ad-men save us from disaster? – silly, but maybe)
Even as an atheist, I pray every single day that this thing ENDS – and spares every life now at risk (which includes every human being on earth, as long as nuclear sabre-rattling of any kind continues).
Thank you sincerely for what you do! Can’t exactly say that it makes us feel better (subject, not your fault) – but I’d rather understand the asteroid hurtling toward us, than look away, or bury my head!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Subscribed!
Afther 3 year war
Definitly no wpundefwaffe.
Taurus is more or less
Saclper.
High accuracy article as usual !
As always, Mike, thanks for your insight!
1. Enough cope and whistling past the graveyard.
2. Taurus missiles are baked in the cake now. This is the result of Russian dithering and indecision.
3. *IF* (note the emphasis) Trump were serious about de-escalation, he need only tell the Germans that, if they deliver Taurus and Russia responds, they are on their own. The United States (and by extension, NATO) will not rescue them if Russia retaliates.
After yesterday, that is obvious. America is no longer in the game.
Theatre upon theatre upon theatre. In our world of propaganda and paid-for-humans, I need to see actions not words... and then consider that the actions hide a new plan.
If you are referring to my third point, that is far from obvious. Trump would have to make a clear, unequivocal and public statement.
Which you likely won’t see. The statements that matter will be delivered behind the scenes, maybe already have, by Trump, Hegseth & co.
If they are not made public, then they lose their force. Popular movies aside, sociopaths prefer to communicate in public.
https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/11/the-gervais-principle-ii-posturetalk-powertalk-babytalk-and-gametalk/
It won't change much on the ground, but it would exclude Europe from any possible diplomatic solution in the next 20 years.