Updated German Taurus Missiles May Receive Japanese Engines Instead of American Ones

The Japanese corporation Kawasaki Heavy Industries is negotiating with the European defense company MBDA to develop high-performance engines for Taurus cruise missiles.

This was reported by Reuters, citing its own sources.

According to the news agency’s sources, the Japanese contractor signed a memorandum of understanding to develop high-performance engines for Taurus cruise missiles on the sidelines of the defense exhibition held in Tokyo in May 2025. However, the companies preferred not to announce the cooperation due to the sensitivity of the issue.

One of the Reuters sources said that MBDA turned to the Japanese company because of its ability to create a lighter and more efficient engine. Currently, the rocket uses engines manufactured by the American company Williams International.

It is known that Kawasaki is currently testing a new small turbofan engine that will propel a long-range anti-ship missile being developed for the Japanese military.

According to the news agency, the involvement of a Japanese partner could further complicate the potential transfer of these cruise missiles to Ukraine. Japan prohibits the transfer of weapons to countries in conflict.

At the same time, Japan has made several exceptions to its arms export rules in recent years as part of a broader shift away from a pacifist stance.

In 2023, the rules were amended to allow Patriot missiles manufactured under license in Japan to be shipped to the United States. These changes required that any re-exports to third countries be approved by Japan, while allowing the United States to transfer additional missiles from its own stockpile to Ukraine, supplementing them with Japanese missiles.

In addition, Japan allowed future exports of the sixth-generation GCAP fighter jet, which is being jointly developed with the United Kingdom and Italy.

In January 2025, MBDA Deutschland and Swedish Saab were awarded a contract to repair and modernize Taurus cruise missiles from the German Air Force’s stockpile. The missile repair and guidance system upgrade should extend the service life of these cruise missiles until 2045.

In addition, in October 2024, it was reported that the German Ministry of Defense plans to purchase new long-range cruise missiles of the new Taurus Neo generation.

According to journalists, it is planned to purchase 600 new missiles worth 2.1 billion euros. In August 2025, it was reported that the contract for their purchase is planned to be signed “in the coming months.”